Thursday, October 1, 2026
A proposed shared responsibility approach to repairing damaged sidewalks has the support of the Olympia City Council.
But additional tools are likely needed to address the worst sidewalk conditions, including possible grant programs, and faster and less expensive repair methods.
City of Olympia Principal Planner Michelle Swanson, presented a proposed long-term sidewalk repair policy at a city council study session on Tuesday, July 21.
She offered four recommendations:
The CFP program is funded at $500,000 annually through Transportation Benefit District sales tax revenue. With the repair crew, the city is now spending nearly $1.2 million annually on sidewalk repairs.
Swanson said the city’s 2024 sidewalk inventory identified nearly 28,000 locations needing repairs across 226 linear miles of sidewalks. At the current pace, city staff estimated it could take about 250 years to address all identified repair needs.
“There is a big need to do sidewalk repair in our city, and city resources alone are unlikely to meet it,” she said.
Under the proposal, owners of large parcels with at least 200 feet of sidewalk frontage would be responsible for repairs. The city’s preliminary analysis found those properties account for about 84 linear miles, or 37 percent of Olympia’s sidewalk network.
Those properties include commercial sites, multifamily housing and government-owned parcels. Commercial properties account for about 28 miles of sidewalks, multifamily properties at roughly 12.8 miles, and government agencies at approximately 14.9 miles.
City staff are also recommending Olympia explore a “fix upon sale” program.
A preliminary analysis found roughly 17 percent of parcels changed ownership between January 2021 and December 2025. Those property transfers represented about 19.6 linear miles of sidewalks, or more than 8.5 percent of the sidewalk network.
Council member Clark Gilman said sidewalks should be treated as part of the city’s transportation system and receive attention similar to streets. He questioned whether the city could use less costly, shorter-term repair methods to address unsafe sidewalks more quickly.
“I just want us to have some gesture out in the neighborhoods for the worst of the worst sections," he said.
To help smaller property owners share the cost of repairs, Council member Paul Berendt suggested creating a grant or incentive program. He also supported expanding sidewalk grinding efforts, which can provide a temporary way to reduce trip hazards.
Council member Dani Madrone raised concerns that a fix upon sale requirement could place a significant financial burden on low-income homeowners, who may not be able to afford costly sidewalk repairs.
She suggested considering an exemption or other equity measure for low-income property owners, similar to one included in the city’s Home Energy Score Program.
Madrone said she supports exploring a fix upon sale requirement, but believes the city needs extensive public engagement before moving forward. She expressed concern that homeowners could face unexpected and potentially costly repairs when they decide to sell.
“For somebody to go sell their property just to find out that they are responsible for a potentially very expensive repair that they did not plan for, it just makes me feel nervous," Madrone said.
While supporting the proposed focus on common pedestrian areas and requiring large parcels to handle their own sidewalks, Madrone requested more information, public engagement and consideration of cost-sharing before moving ahead with a fix upon sale requirement.
Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh supported exploring lower-cost repair alternatives and asked staff to show how sidewalk repairs could help advance the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan. She also sought more information about how a shared-responsibility model would work and how costs would be divided between the city and property owners.
Existing policy places responsibility for maintaining sidewalks on adjacent property owners, but Swanson said enforcement has been difficult and inconsistent.
The council directed staff to continue developing the proposed approach, while asking them to return with additional information on potential grant and cost-sharing programs, sidewalk grinding and other repair options, including details of a possible fix upon sale program.
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Shushu
Since property owners don't own the sidewalks, why should they pay to fix them? If I have to pay to fix it I want it done my way not from the rip off people the city council approves. Exactly why are the outrageous taxes we pay not paying for sidewalks? What next we pay for street repairs adjacent to our properties? Having to pay for repairs to get an energy score isn't ludicrous enough? You idiots will cause any potential businesses and homeowners to avoid Olympia like the plague then where is your tax base for the non working homeless.
Thursday, July 23 Report this
debpattin
What about sidewalks that are disrupted by protected historic trees? 4th Ave is lined on both sides by trees planted in honor of veterans. These historic tree roots have buckled sidewalks through the city’s core. But business owners are forbidden from cutting down or pruning these trees. What is the solution for this situation?
Thursday, July 23 Report this
Boatyarddog
Debpattin , good question for the Port where is their responsibility? They buried ALOT of Junk there. LEGACY,pollution and all. There should incur costs to repair to to difficulties with Existing Infrastructure.
Thursday, July 23 Report this
Boatyarddog
No one wants the responsibility for any Liability.
Thursday, July 23 Report this
sunshine39
Debpattin--It's not 4th Ave, it's Legion(named for a legion of soldiers)
Friday, July 24 Report this
TheVirtualOne
The city created the tree problems by doing an abysmal job of letting developers build with zero enforcement of standards to ensure the proper kinds of trees were planted. It’s absolutely sickening to see how screwed up the trees are throughout the city, because of the city, and no one else. Trees right next to street lights, water meters, sprinklers, underground utilities, sewer and storm water drainage pipes, They have no business now making the adjacent homeowners and businesses pay for these sidewalk repairs they were supposed be be paying attention to when they issued building permits and no oversight of developers.
Friday, July 24 Report this
OlyBlues
The VirtualOne speaks the truth. It makes zero sense for the city to either plant or require to be planted large trees DIRECTLY next to the sidewalks and then require homeowners who wanted nothing to do with them to pay for them! This is clearly the city's responsibility.
Friday, July 24 Report this
Snevets
I understand all the problems...Round abouts for trees? What do cities in Europe do? Put this idea in front of our young people that play Fortnite and Minecraft, what would they do?
Friday, July 24 Report this
Mugwump
At this point in the discussion, it's worth recognizing that the real issue isn't where, which, or how trees were planted, or even the sidewalks that have sat broken for years. The real issue is a city leadership that can't maintain basic infrastructure within the budget the existing tax base provides. Government is fundamentally about making choices that benefit the most citizens. Leaders who don't grasp that shouldn't be in office. Maybe it's time for a revolution in local government. Maybe it's time to vote them all out.
Friday, July 24 Report this
Cobbnaustic
How the heck does the city expect homeless people to set up tents on those messed up sidewalks. LOL
Friday, July 24 Report this
JoeyBreaux
Here in the U.S. we pride ourselves on our physical infrastructure but to be honest, its at about the level in some ways, as what we would see in a developing country. It's certainly heading in that direction.
Sunday, August 2 Report this