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Sidewalk Repair Program / Environmental Impact Report

Council File 14-0163-S18

In progress — the City Council is preparing to vote on an ordinance that would formally establish a streamlined sidewalk repair program tied to a federal settlement requiring the city to fix ADA barriers on public sidewalks. Committees have approved it; full Council action is next.

Introduced
2025-05-22
Last changed
2026-06-25
Status
open
Expires
2028-06-24
Committee
Public Works Committee
Initiated by
Board of Public Works
References
Related Council Files: 14-0163-S3; 14-0420Board Report: BPW-2025-0309State Clearinghouse No. 2017071063City Attorney Report: R26- 0266

Brief

The Board of Public Works initiated a sidewalk repair program paired with its required environmental impact report. The Public Works Committee approved the item as amended in October 2025, and Council adopted it November 12, 2025 by a 14-0-1 vote. Recent activity shows the Bureau of Engineering submitted updated documents in June 2026 that have been referred to both the Public Works and Energy and Environment committees; the Public Works Committee approved them on June 24, while Energy and Environment waived consideration on June 25.

Full summary

The Sidewalk Repair Program, initiated by the Board of Public Works in May 2025, combines citywide sidewalk infrastructure repair with environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The program is directly tied to the settlement agreement in Willits v. City of Los Angeles, a federal disability-rights lawsuit requiring the City to remediate ADA barriers on public sidewalks. The new ordinance, if enacted, would add Section 62.104.1 to the Los Angeles Municipal Code to formally establish and codify the Sidewalk Repair Program as a streamlined approval process for qualifying repair projects that earn credit under that settlement. The environmental documentation consists of two layers: a 2021 Environmental Impact Report and a subsequent Recirculated EIR, both of which the Public Works Committee is recommending Council certify as complete and legally adequate under CEQA. Alongside the EIR certification, the committee is recommending Council adopt CEQA Findings including a Statement of Overriding Considerations, approve a Street Tree Policy and a Mandatory Project Features Policy governing how repairs are carried out, and pass the ordinance on first consideration. The legislative path has proceeded in two phases. In the first phase, the Board of Public Works submitted its initial report in May 2025. The Energy and Environment Committee waived consideration in September 2025, and the Public Works Committee approved the item as amended in October 2025. Council then adopted the matter 14-0-1 on November 12, 2025. In the second phase, the Bureau of Engineering submitted additional documents in June 2026, including the proposed ordinance drafted by the City Attorney and dated May 4, 2026. The Public Works Committee approved the full package, including the ordinance on first consideration, on June 24, 2026, with members Hernandez, Padilla, and Hutt all voting yes. The Energy and Environment Committee waived consideration the following day. The matter now awaits full Council action on the ordinance. No fiscal impact statement has been submitted by the Bureau of Engineering or City Attorney, and no community impact statements have been filed. Once the Council acts and the Mayor approves, the ordinance will formally codify the Sidewalk Repair Program in city law.

Activity (16)

  • 2026-06-25 Energy and Environment Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 2026-06-24 Public Works Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-06-18 Public Works Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 24, 2026.
  • 2026-06-04 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee; Public Works Committee.
  • 2026-06-03 Document submitted by Bureau of Engineering, dated June 3, 2026.
  • 2026-06-02 Corrected Referral per City Clerk to include Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-05-06 City Attorney document(s) referred to Public Works Committee.
  • 2026-05-06 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated May 6, 2026.
  • 2025-11-15 Council action final.
  • 2025-11-12 Council adopted item forthwith.
  • 2025-11-07 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on November 12, 2025.
  • 2025-10-22 Public Works Committee approved as amended .
  • 2025-10-17 Public Works Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on October 22, 2025.
  • 2025-09-04 Energy and Environment Committee waived consideration of item .
  • 2025-05-23 Board of Public Works document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee; Public Works Committee.
  • 2025-05-22 Document(s) submitted by Board of Public Works, as follows:Board of Public Works report, dated May 22, 2025, relative to the Sidewalk Repair Program and Environmental Impact Report.

Documents (8)

Council votes (1)

  • 2025-11-12 Adopted Forthwith — 14-0-1 · Regular

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