Yes, Ventura County is ahead of the City of Los Angeles on making sidewalk care a homeowner responsibility. I would say that I wish this was legislation that Ventura County did not have and L.A. was the leader on it, but let’s get to the facts. The Daily news reported today (10-20) that the Los Angeles City Council is considering to give homeowners the responsibility of keeping up sidewalks and the legal liability for sidwalk damage.
As the photo of a sidewalk in Oak Park shows, tree roots can cause a lot of damage, lifting and twisting the walkway. Los Angeles is now responsible for tree root damage, and that is what some City Council members want to change. For the Daily News story by Rick Orlov, go to: Daily News, 10-20-11, Sidewalk Responsibility
As for Ventura County, the ordinance giving homeowners sidewalk maintenance responsibility applies to residents in unincorporated areas. Here is a link to a County brochure: County of Ventura Sidewalk and Street Tree Maintenance Supervisor Linda Parks brought up at the September Oak Park MAC meeting, that she wants money from the new 2035 Ventura County Transportation Plan to pay for sidewalk repairs. (Of course, that would depend on the plan getting funded), but I think it is a good idea, too.
Mikey // Oct 20, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Why do we pour concrete under trees for sidewalks? Recycling rubber tires for this purpose makes much more sense.
http://rubbersidewalks.com/products/overview/
Finally, something eco-nerd and I can agree on! :)