City staff outlines sidewalk selection process and $2.7M grant constraints

Jeff, the city’s sidewalks presenter, told the Boerne City Council on April 28 that sidewalk project selection draws from planning studies, citizen requests, staff concerns and the ADA transition plan. He said feasibility screens — right‑of‑way availability, utility conflicts and topography — drive which potential projects are practical to pursue.

Jeff explained the city bundled several shovel‑ready designs and secured a $2.7 million grant for a citywide sidewalk package that is reimbursed on an 80/20 basis. He cautioned that the grant reimburses only hard construction costs; design fees, right‑of‑way acquisition and utility relocations are not eligible for reimbursement, which can make some projects much more expensive to build if site constraints exist.

The presentation listed recent and upcoming projects — including West San Antonio Avenue, Rosewood Avenue, portions of East Bandera and several downtown infill pieces — and described priority criteria such as connectivity to downtown, schools, trails and filling sidewalk gaps. Jeff highlighted that some locations require extensive property acquisition or utility relocations, while other locations were advanced because right‑of‑way and topography made construction straightforward.

Council members thanked staff for responsiveness to citizen complaints about sidewalks and asked about sequencing and funding. Staff said getting projects “shovel ready” through design work increases the chance of winning competitive funds and that some planned projects will be included in next year’s MPO package.

The presentation did not ask the council for a funding vote but provided context for upcoming capital and grant decisions. Staff said additional design, coordination with TxDOT and right‑of‑way tasks are ongoing and will return to council as funding and construction timelines are refined.