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Item 3.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 10/13/2025 |
| Title: | First Read and Public Hearing BMCC 22-406 - Sidewalk Impediments |
| Presented by: | Tina Hoeger |
| Department: | Planning & Community Services |
| Presentation: | Yes |
| Legal Review: | Yes |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council conduct a public hearing and approve amendments to BMCC 22-406 on first reading.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
During a work session on August 18, 2025, council and staff discussed recommended amendments to two city codes. The first was BMCC 22-406. Healthy discussion around the table resulted in the attached red-lined version of the code. Suggestions to add a definition at the beginning of the code for the word, "impediment", as well as cleaning up some of the language, and removing suggested subsection (d) are all included in the current submission.
A second code, BMCC 15-501, was also discussed; however, staff identified additional language changes in that same article that need to be addressed as well, so BMCC 15-501 will be brought back to council at a later date. Attached to this memo, council has an amended, red-lined version and a clean version of BMCC 22-406. Staff does not have a power point presentation for this agenda item and will introduce it and stand for questions from Council given the extensive discussion at the Work Session and the red-lined version atatched to this memo for reference.
A second code, BMCC 15-501, was also discussed; however, staff identified additional language changes in that same article that need to be addressed as well, so BMCC 15-501 will be brought back to council at a later date. Attached to this memo, council has an amended, red-lined version and a clean version of BMCC 22-406. Staff does not have a power point presentation for this agenda item and will introduce it and stand for questions from Council given the extensive discussion at the Work Session and the red-lined version atatched to this memo for reference.
STAKEHOLDERS
The recommended amendments to BMCC 22-406 will have a positive effect on all users of our sidewalks, especially for those stakeholders that use a wheeled device in some way, whether it be a scooter, wheelchair, stroller, etc. The amendments will also provide for more consistent and clear enforcement.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve the recommended amendments to BMCC 22-406; or,
- Not Approve the recommended amendments to BMCC 22-406. Not approving the amendments will leave this section of code difficult to enforce and also with gaps in the ability to enforce various impediments to sidewalks around the City throughout the year.
FISCAL EFFECTS
There are no significant fiscal effects for these amendments. It will make keeping sidewalks clear of all impediments a clearer enforcement activity for City staff.
SUMMARY
Approving the recommended amendments to BMCC 22-406 will give code enforcement year-round ability to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians and wheeled travelers alike.