PRESS RELEASE
December 8, 20148
Office of Pittsburgh City Council Member Darlene M. Harris
Contact: 412 255 2135
COUNCILWOMAN DARLENE M. HARRIS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO
City has not increased reimbursement for tree root damage for at least 20 years.
(Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh City Council Member Darlene M. Harris (D- District 1) will introduce legislation on
Tuesday, December 9, 2014, to update the city’s policy for paying out sidewalk damages caused by city
trees. The city currently reimburses city property owners $4.00 per sq. foot. Council Member Harris’
legislation would increase that amount to $8.00 per sq. ft.
“When we looked into this,” said Council Member Harris, “the city’s Law Department reported that the
amount the city pays for tree root damaged sidewalk claims has been $4.00 per sq. foot for at least
twenty years. No one can recall exactly when that amount ($4.00 a sq. ft) had been set. With inflation,
that original value has been cut in half. It is only fair that that there is a readjustment. It might also
motivate people to make needed sidewalk repairs.”
Council Member Harris’ legislation also authorizes the City Solicitor to recalculate the reimbursement
amount every four years based upon the consumer price index. “That would keep the Council from
having to revisit this matter every few years or so. It is good housekeeping. Right now the city is only
covering 20% of the replacement. This legislation would make it 40% reimbursement. That’s about what
it was when the $4.00 number was set decades ago.”
UPDATE SIDEWALK DAMAGE CLAIMS
According to Harris, local contractors estimate that it costs about $500.00 to replace one 5’x5’ sidewalk
slab ($20.00 per sq. ft.). An increase in the Law Department’s 2015 judgment account would be
sufficient to absorb this cost.
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