Council addresses sidewalk funding

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December 4, 2009

Anonymous The Commerce Journal Fri Dec 04, 2009, 12:12 AM CST

City manager cites multiple ways to fund project

By Chad Blackshear

Journal Staff

Improved sidewalks in the downtown area could become a reality for the City of Commerce — that is, if grant funding and the required matching funds can be acquired.

The city council briefly discussed a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) grant program for pedestrian routes and sidewalks during Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the city council.

A workshop was held prior to the meeting to discuss the matter.

Following a brief discussion, the council unanimously authorized city officials to apply for the grant, which would require a 20 percent match by the city.

The city is expected to apply for approximately $1.4 million in grant funding, which would require a match of approximately $290,000 by the city.

City Manager Dion Miller informed the council that possible ways to attain matching funds could be through bonds or increased taxes, as the city does not have money specifically budgeted for the repair of sidewalks in the downtown area.

Miller commented to the council that downtown areas typically slip into decay when a city does not invest money in the area.

“If you don’t fix them, they continue to slide downward,” said Miller.

As the city manager of Mineola, Miller oversaw the completion of the first downtown sidewalk program in Texas using federal transportation funding.

“I think the question to the council is that you can issue debt, raise taxes or take a chance and see what happens,” said Miller.

Tracy Lunceford, director of public works, spoke in favor of applying for grant money to fix the sidewalks in downtown even if the city must contribute matching funds.

Lunceford cited safety issues with crumbling sections of sidewalks and the potential for injuries.

“Addressing problems with the sidewalk is going to have to be done,” said Lunceford.

In other actions, the council:

• Approved an ordinance banning parking on the north and south side of Cooper Street beginning at West Neal and ending at Bois d’ Arc;

• Approved an ordinance banning parking on the east and west side of Bryan Street from Stonewall to Cooper and east side from Cooper to Jackson;

• Approved an ordinance lowering the section of Bryan Street between Culver and Cooper from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour and the portion between Cooper and Stonewall from 30 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour;

• Approved the official zoning map for the City of Commerce; and

• Received a presentation from Mike Tibbetts of Hayter engineering regarding potential loans from the Texas Water Development Board for water system improvements. No action was taken regarding the matter.

The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15.

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