The Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion Wednesday to improve the city's sidewalk repair system, adopting suggestions from a report by Controller Ron Galperin that concluded the city's program was broken, as were many of the sidewalks themselves.

Councilmen Bob Blumenfield and Mike Bonin introduced the proposal on December 8, and it has previously passed the Public Works and Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare committees.

"Everyone who utilizes our sidewalks in Los Angeles understands that much work remains to be done before we can claim to have the infrastructure our city deserves. "We must start making changes to how things have been done in the past," Blumenfield said in a statement released earlier this month following the Public Works Committee meeting.

"You can't cure an issue you can't measure, and we can't solve a problem this big piece by piece. We need to build on what the controller has said and begin with a full audit of every sidewalk slab in the city, including areas where needed sidewalks and curb ramps are absent."

In his Nov. 17 report, Galperin advocated for a full review of the city's 9,000 miles of sidewalks, as well as a policy that prioritizes broken concrete areas over replacing vast stretches of pavement.

Concrete Slab Restoration Program

“Tens of thousands of sidewalks throughout Los Angeles are impassable for the elderly, individuals with disabilities and pedestrians of all ages,” said Galperin. “Despite its recent attention to the issue, the city’s concrete sidewalk restoration program is just not working as it should.

The sheer scope of the problem, combined with the city’s costly and inadequate response approach, means that dangerous cracked concrete sidewalks aren’t being repaired quickly enough. In fact, most will take years, if not decades, to correct.

According to Galperin, the city has received more than 1,700 claims and 1,020 lawsuits for sidewalk injuries during the last five years. It has paid out more than $35 million in settlements, including $12 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year alone. In some cases, concrete replacement is necessary when repairs are not sufficient to address the severity of the damage.

However, the number of sidewalk replacement is unknown, as the city previously regarded a full inspection as too costly. According to Galperin, modern technology allows for faster and more cost-effective evaluation completion.

When Los Angeles settled a disability rights lawsuit in 2016, policymakers began to consider a potential sidewalk assessment. As part of the Willits settlement, the city committed to spend $1.37 billion over three decades to repair uneven sidewalk, impassable curb ramps, and other impediments in the pedestrian right of way, including the replacement of severely damaged sections with a new concrete slab.

Policy for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs

In 2016, the City Council also enacted a “fix and release” policy, under which the city repairs sidewalks and then transfers liability to nearby property owners with a limited guarantee. Under such policy, the city is still liable for sidewalk injuries under state law, but it can enforce the property owner’s responsibility to maintain the new concrete. Making sidewalk repairs involves checking with the town for necessary permits and understanding the costs and responsibilities, including considering rebates for damages caused by nearby trees, which is crucial in the context of this policy that effectively transfers liability to property owners.

According to Galperin, the city passes responsibility to the owner through a certificate process, and as of the end of June 2021, the Bureau of Engineering had only 4,800 certificates, accounting for less than 1% of Los Angeles’ 640,000 sidewalk parcels.

“If you maintain that same pace, it’s going to take us 500 years to certify the sidewalks in the city,” he told the crowd on Nov. 17.

He also expressed worry that the city has only completed sidewalk repairs at 2,100 sites, referring to this as “a small fraction of the locations that need fixing.” The level-up procedure involves placing injected foam on uneven pavements and raising them to level them. Before this, it's crucial to choose the right concrete mix for filling and repairing concrete surfaces to ensure durability, especially when dealing with old concrete.

Repairing or patching existing surfaces can significantly extend their lifespan. For sidewalk slabs that are sinking or uneven, understanding the types of repairs needed is essential to prevent safety hazards and ensure compliance with local requirements. The preparation work includes mixing and shoveling wet concrete to achieve the right consistency for a lasting repair. Polyurethane foam injections can be easier and less invasive to perform when the pavement is flat. December 11, 2023.

Galperin claimed that another 50,000 reported faults have still to be rectified.

He also stated that the current technique results in more work than is required by law, since the city attempts to restore whole sidewalks on each property rather than focusing on minor deficiencies.

The city’s renovations are taking longer than expected due to excessive workload. When only a few feet of repairs are required, such as fixing cracks or raising sidewalks, an entire parcel is torn up. It wastes money and takes far too long.”

The motion passed on Wednesday directs the Bureau of Engineering to come back within 60 days with recommendations for enhancements or adjustments to the city’s sidewalk initiatives, including those from the controller.

Sidewalk Repair Inspection From Concrete Contractors

The repair of concrete pavements will range from $400 up. The cost may be worthwhile since a badly deteriorating sidewalk could actually ruin your curb appeal and become dangerous. Many communities or counties have left the repairs to homeowners, but you will need to ensure you understand the full cost before beginning. The concrete slab behind your home may crack and fall. Utilizing a concrete truck for large-scale projects, such as when addressing both driveways and sidewalks simultaneously, can offer significant cost-saving benefits by reducing the need for multiple trips.

Galperin suggested that the city amend the municipal code to include new sidewalk inspection criteria that identify significant defects in need of repair, change the prioritization guidance to include sidewalks other than those near city facilities for sidewalk repair, and exercise discretion to expedite sidewalk repairs and reduce pre-construction time. However, the city needs to hire a certified contractor for the minimum fee for concrete repair and small cracks.