Colfax council advances sidewalk repair ordinance after lengthy public hearing; ordinance waives some state standards and adds city responsibilities

City Planner Kathy Pease presented a revised sidewalk repair and maintenance ordinance to the Colfax City Council during a public hearing on Feb. 26, telling the council the proposal clarifies responsibilities that have been on state law books for decades. "As a reminder, the State of California already requires adjacent property owners, and indicates that it's their obligation to repair a defective sidewalk," Pease said.

The meeting drew a large public turnout and extended public comment. Dozens of residents and downtown business owners said they learned only recently about the proposed ordinance and raised concerns about notice, cost, historic sidewalks that may have been originally constructed by past property owners, the impact of city trees, and whether the city would require full Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance on historic sidewalks.

Planner Kathy Pease described revisions made since the council last considered the matter in January. Revisions in the current draft add language that clarifies when the city will perform repairs caused by a "city tree," defines the difference between city-owned trees and privately owned trees, and clarifies responsibilities for…