FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6093

                           C 19 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for sidewalk reconstruction.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Sheldon, Winsley, Drew, Owen, Prentice and Quigley).

Senate Committee on Government Operations

House Committee on Government Operations

Background:  Three different statutes authorize cities and towns to either construct, reconstruct, or repair sidewalks and to impose the cost on the abutting landowner.  In the case of projects which are less than a block long, the cost imposed on the abutting property owner may not exceed 50 percent of the valuation of the abutting property.

Citizens have raised objections to this authority in cases where the city is responsible, in whole or in part, for the deterioration of a sidewalk.  For example, a city may fail to enforce ordinances prohibiting parking of vehicles on sidewalks, resulting in the breakdown of the sidewalk surface.  It is felt that, in such cases, the city or town should bear the cost of reconstruction.

"Sidewalk" is defined to include "all structures or forms of street improvement included in the space between the street margin and the roadway."

Summary:  In a city or town, an abutting owner cannot be charged with any cost of reconstruction of a sidewalk if reconstruction is required to correct deterioration or damage which results from direct actions of the city or town or from the failure of the city or town to enforce its ordinances.

"Sidewalk" is defined to include "all pedestrian structures or forms of improvement included in the space between the street margin, as defined by a curb or the edge of the traveled road surface, and the line where the public right of way meets the abutting property."

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    48 0

House     98 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996