Colfax continues sidewalk repair ordinance

The Colfax City Council was slated to consider approving an ordinance Jan. 22, which would aim to maintain safe walkways for pedestrians. The item was instead pulled from the consent agenda and continued to a future meeting. The proposed ordinance would allow the city engineer to provide a letter to a property owner to notify them and document a needed sidewalk repair. The property owner would then have 90 days to complete the repair. If the repair is not made in the provided completion period, the city would repair the sidewalk and recoup the costs from the property owner. The council approved the ordinance introduction during its Jan. 8 meeting. The item was pulled from the consent agenda by a member of the public to address questions, including the definition of a sidewalk and what a property owner's responsibility is in the event a repair is needed. Colfax City Attorney Conor Harkins referred commenters to the ordinance, as it included the answers to their questions. Councilmember Larry Hillberg broached fellow Councilmember Trinity Burruss, who was absent, previously requesting a differentiation for city-owned trees and personally-owned trees causing damage to sidewalks. Hillberg noted since a change was not made to the ordinance, "It's as if it was ignored." "I think we should have a little more consideration for the people that live here and if our trees or our equipment or anything like that damages the sidewalk, we should fix it," he said. Harkins noted the provision Hillberg was referencing may already be in the ordinance, and the council proceeded to agency reports from the Placer County Sheriff's Office, CHP, CAL FIRE and nonprofits as he looked through the ordinance. Harkins confirmed the provision was in the ordinance but did not include the exemption to the duty of repair for city-caused damage. The council requested the item be continued for Planning Consultant Kathy Pease to add the provision between city-owned and personally-owned trees. Hillberg requested a provision also be added for the city being responsible for city-caused damage. The ordinance will return for the council's review after the requested amendments have been made.