The City of Portland is poised to bring a Sidewalk Management Plan ordinance before the council on April 8. The last sidewalk ordinance was declared unconstitutional back in June.
Via the City of Portland late this afternoon...
Why is the City Council working on a comprehensive “Sidewalk Management Plan?”
Last year, the court ruled that the City’s ordinance regulating the use of sidewalks was unconstitutional. And, there have been significant budget cuts to Multnomah County’s human services programs, which have left many Portlanders without the safety net needed to stay afloat during the current economic crisis. The lack of services has added social pressures to the way sidewalks are used and affected the City’s need to manage its sidewalks in a way that will accommodate the new pressures without restricting the fundamental purpose of the sidewalks, which is to move people.
What does this ordinance do?
Public sidewalks are a public service. This ordinance takes a holistic approach to managing the myriad of sidewalk uses by segregating the sidewalks into zones, which allows for more efficient use of the available space. It is based on federal American with Disabilities Act (1990), Architectural Barriers Act (1968), and the Rehabilitation Act (1973), all of which include specific design guidelines that disabled citizens need for unobstructed passage on public sidewalks.
Read the two-page document— Sidewalk Management Plan
The five-page final draft ordinance— Final Draft Ordinance
Read about the history of the ordinance.
Sound off and let us know what you think!
Posted by Israel Bayer
