Here’s your chance to have your say on Denver’s sidewalks

The city is taking applications for a task force on Denver Deserves Sidewalks.

A sidewalk ends on Josephine Street by East High School. Aug. 24, 2021.

A sidewalk ends on Josephine Street by East High School. Aug. 24, 2021.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
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Last fall, Denver voters approved an ambitious plan to raise around $40 million per year from homeowners to repair city sidewalks. Now, the city has to figure out what that actually looks like.

That’s where you come in.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is taking applications from residents to serve on a task force to review the ordinance and figure out how to make it happen.

Interested residents should email DOTISidewalks@denvergov.org by Friday, April 7 with their name, address and a statement about why they are interested.

“In selecting task force members, DOTI will seek geographic diversity and consider people’s expertise, interests, and lived experiences,” DOTI spokesperson Nancy Kuhn wrote. “Applicants should be able to commit to meeting every other week for the next 5 or so months.”

The initiative, Denver Deserves Sidewalks, passed with around 56% of the vote, but it wasn’t without controversy.

A city analysis found it could take nearly 30 years to build and repair sidewalks across the city. And some homeowners were unhappy with a plan that sets tax rates based on how much their property faces a road that could or does have a sidewalk.

Proponents said typical lots could see fees of around $110 per year, Councilmember Kevin Flynn said some addresses could see bills from $600 to $1,100.

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