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Safe Sidewalks Program
About
The Safe Sidewalks Program is a repair reimbursement program that aims to help expedite the repair needs throughout our residential areas by allocating $350,000 in total funding with $50,000 distributed to each of the seven City Council districts. Any unused funds may be used by Public Works to repair sidewalks throughout the city or returned to the Measure O Fund.
The Safe Sidewalks Program will reimburse 50% of the repair cost (up to a maximum of $2,500) per resident property frontage. Income-qualified residents (per California Alternate Rates for Energy Income Qualifications) may receive a match of 75% of the cost of the sidewalk repair, subject to a maximum of $3,750 per property frontage.
The application period is open, and applications must be received by March 30 of the current fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Application approvals and permit authorizations will begin on July 1 of the current fiscal year.
Program Requirements
Click here for a Step-by-Step Guide
Residents will be required to:
- Submit an application
- Online
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: Safe Sidewalks Program, Public Works Streets Division, City of Ventura, 336 Sanjon Road, Ventura, CA 93001
- Note: applications are due by March 31of the current fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Applicants must receive a permit before starting construction beginning July 1 of the current fiscal year.
- Hire a contractor. The contractor must:
- Have a current City-issued business license
- Have a valid A, C-8, C-12, or C-61:D:06 contractor’s license
- Be registered with the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and meet all the DIR requirements for public works projects
- Have repair work completed, inspected, and accepted by the city to receive reimbursement
- Note: repair work must be completed by June 30 of the current fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).
Background
In January 2021, the City Council approved a sidewalk repair reimbursement program that uses Measure O funding to repay residents for a portion of their sidewalk repair costs.
On September 28, 2020, the City Council discussed a policy consideration to establish a program for city reimbursement of eligible resident-initiated sidewalk repairs since the sidewalk program was underfunded for many years until the passage of Measure O in 2016. During the prior seven years, funding for annual sidewalk maintenance averaged $47,000. The Measure O Transaction and Use tax fund has provided over $2.5 million to maintain and repair sidewalks throughout the city to provide safe and navigable public sidewalks.
Projects to repair city sidewalks are prioritized based on pedestrian traffic volume and safety risk to the public. Since 2016, over 40,000 square feet of damaged sidewalks have been repaired. Still, there are more sidewalks throughout the city that need repair. The city maintains a Sidewalk Disruption GIS database that has identified approximately 2,000 locations in need of repair. A list of sidewalk projects and a map showing the inventory of disruptions are available on our website.