Pasco council to require sidewalk installation on 4 properties

Four property owners in Pasco's Kurtzman Park neighborhood will be required to install sidewalks themselves if they don't join a local improvement district.

The Pasco City Council approved ordering the sidewalk installation for four properties on Hugo Avenue between Alton and Lewis streets Monday in a 6-1 vote.

The council approved a local improvement district, or LID, on Hugo and Cedar avenues between Lewis and Alton streets and the adjacent portion of Alton Street in December.

This is the third and final phase of street improvements in the Kurtzman Park neighborhood, said Rick White, Pasco community and economic development director.

The four properties that will be ordered to build sidewalks did not dedicate the right of way needed for the city to add the sidewalks, he said. Street, curb and gutter still will be installed along those properties.

The city engineer has determined it would be a safety hazard for pedestrians if gaps in the sidewalk existed along Hugo Avenue, White said. City code allows the council to order sidewalk installation for safety.

The property owners still could dedicate right of way until the project goes to bid, which is expected in early March. That is why the city council took up the issue now, said Rebecca Francik, Pasco's mayor pro tem.

It would be cheaper for the property owners to participate in the LID for sidewalks, Francik said. The improvements will be financed over 10 years, and there are savings associated with quantity.

And the city dedicated federal Community Development Block Grant money to buy down the project, Francik said.

The project is expected to cost about $626,000, but the city will use $350,000 from the federal grant, according to county documents.

Sidewalks will cost $12 per linear foot in the LID and about $20 per linear foot if property owner do it on their own, according to city documents.

Under the resolution approved by the city council, a lien would be placed against the properties if they fail to add sidewalks by the end of the year, White said.

Councilman Tom Larsen voted against ordering the sidewalk installation.

-- Kristi Pihl: 582-1512; kpihl@tricityherald.com

This story was originally published February 7, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pasco council to require sidewalk installation on 4 properties ."