A member of the Denver City Council says a delay in the new sidewalk fee will give a task force more time to iron out the structure of the initiative and give homeowners more time to plan for the costs.
The fee was expected to begin in January 2024, but the council has decided not to implement it until at least July.
District 1 Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval said residents are concerned with the amount of fees they are now facing. In addition to the sidewalk fee, residents are contending with a new trash fee and stormwater fees are rising.
“I’ve had constituents come to public comment regarding the fees that they are facing in Denver and feel that they will be pushed out of Denver because of all the fees,” Sandoval said at an Oct. 2 meeting. “I feel it’s only fair that we delay this sidewalk fee for six months to make sure that the task force has the opportunity to meet and come up with recommendations that we, as a body, can pass.”
Homeowners who are delinquent in paying the sidewalk fee face the prospect of a city-imposed lien on their property.
Voters passed the citizen-led ballot measure known as Denver Deserves Sidewalks in November 2022. It is now known as Ordinance 307 — Sidewalk Construction, Reconstruction and Repair — or simply, the sidewalk fee. The fee transfers the responsibility of the construction and maintenance of sidewalks from property owners to Denver government. Property owners, however, must pay an annual fee for sidewalk services based on “linear feet of property frontage and street type,” according to the city.
Even homes that have pristine sidewalks will be charged.
“The fee is a revenue source to fund maintenance and repair projects and new sidewalk installations to connect people to places and services citywide,” according to the city. “Therefore, the city will not be issuing any refunds or exemptions from this fee.”
To learn more about the sidewalk fee ordinance, visit tinyurl.com/DenverSidewalkFee.