Elmhurst Official Argues Against New Sidewalk Policy

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst aldermen on Monday took a final vote for a new sidewalk policy, which calls for the city to pay a bigger portion.

Alderwoman Noel Talluto argued against it.

Under the new policy, the city would cover three-quarters of the costs, with residents paying the rest, as opposed to half previously.

Now, at least 50 percent of residents must approve a sidewalk petition, lower than the 60 percent threshold before.

The council took its first vote last month, with the vote unanimous. Talluto was absent, though.

At Monday's City Council meeting, Talluto said the threshold for a sidewalk petition would be too low, given that residents would be socked with a new tax.

"It's essentially like someone buying a home in a neighborhood and 10 years later, imposing a homeowner fee on them that they didn't want or choose to have," Talluto said. "People buy homes in Elmhurst and in many other communities knowing they don't have a sidewalk and accepting those tradeoffs for the price they're paying for their home."

She also said she saw no "groundswell" or "uproar" in town calling for a policy change.

Additionally, Talluto said the council was increasing the amount it would pay for sidewalks when the city already faces "extreme budget pressures."

However, Alderwoman Emily Bastedo said the policy does not obligate the council to spend more money. Every sidewalk petition would require specific council action, she said.

Alderman Jacob Hill said the city has seen a lot of interest in sidewalks. He noted that 41 attempts with sidewalk petitions have been made over the last couple of decades. Only five succeeded, and none since 2009.

The old policy, he said, had been a failure.

Alderman Michael Bram agreed, saying changes were long overdue.

"People are defeated," he said. "They are defeated because the process is so laborious, the process is so difficult."

The council's vote was 12-1. Alderwoman Jennifer Veremis was absent; she was also missing for the first vote.

Most of Elmhurst has sidewalks. But large parts of northeast Elmhurst are without them. The northwest side has areas in the same situation.