In the town of Fairfax, strides towards minimizing risks of tripping and other sidewalk hazards have resulted in a one-time sidewalk shaving event, occurring this week, intended to improve minor issues. This well-thought-out initiative falls under the umbrella of the Sidewalk Repair Program, a cost-sharing venture designed to enable property owners to repair damaged sidewalks, providing a sense of assurance for the people of Fairfax through shared responsibility towards maintaining the town's sidewalks, as per the Town of Fairfax news.
The Fairfax Sidewalk Repair Program, actively helps property owners rectify damaged verandas with the help of a 50-50 cost-sharing model, a limit of $2,000 for the town's share, along with waiving encroachment permit charges. This program stands as an epitome of collaboration and mutual understanding between the government and the citizens, thereby setting the stage for other small towns across the U.S. to follow.
Both California State Streets and Highways Code Section 5610 and Fairfax's municipal code Chapter 12.44.030, propel adjacent property owners to keep the sidewalks maintained and safe and hold them accountable for any injuries caused due to their negligence.
Nevertheless, the town's citizens are to continue on the lookout for situations where removing a tree might be necessary for the repair of a sidewalk. This is primarily because the Sidewalk Repair Program's funding doesn't extend to tree removal, leaving property owners the job of submitting applications to the tree committee for required approvals, further emphasizing the need for a symbiotic relationship between the town and its property owners.
