Photo: blackbyrd/Flickr

By now, you may have received word from the Bicycle Coalition that the City Council’s Budget and Finance, Public Works, and Transportation Committees are meeting in a joint meeting today to discuss, amongst other things, how the city will spend it’s Measure R Local Return dollars.  Yes, the long fought for 10% set-aside for bicycling and pedestrian projects remains in the city’s official recommendations, and the bike coalition has already put together a good list of talking points for anyone who’s going to head downtown at 1:00 P.M. today.

But even if the Measure R proposal sails through, there are several other proposals that could make today a bad day for pedestrians.  The city has long discussed retreating from its obligation to maintain our sidewalks.  Two proposals on the agenda could move forward those proposals. 

The first calls on the city to require that sidewalk repairs be done by homeowners when they sell a property.  The argument is actually that this doesn’t cost homeowners anything, because the cost would be included in the sale of the house.  That’s a sure fire way to kick start the flagging housing market.

The second absolves the city of the requirement to repair sidewalks, curbs, and driveways that are caused by roots coming through the sidewalk.

You might be surprised, but I scrolled up and down the agenda a couple of times, and didn’t see a mention anywhere of the Bureau of Street Services or LADOT recommendations that the city should scale back its street maintenance or anything of the sort.  But sidewalks?  Let someone else take care of it!

And if that’s not enough excitement, there will also be motions on DASH cuts and hikes, super graphics, and parking meter maintenance.  I can’t make the meeting personally, but I’ll be live tweeting the meeting and posting an update later this afternoon.