Some can’t see the forest for the trees. Others see trees and visualize sewer problems and lawsuits. The owner of Sonoma Courts Shops, Melissa Redmond, has asked the city to remove every tree – 17, to be exact — on the east side of Broadway, between Napa and Patton. As the landlord of the shops there, she’s getting the bill for the problems caused by tree roots growing under the sidewalk and through sewer lines. She told the city that she has endured thousands of dollars in sewer repairs, insurance rate increases due to three trip/fall (over sidewalks raised by root growth) lawsuits and other expenses “too numerous to mention.” While beautiful to look at, she said, the Red Oaks are “the wrong trees,” and claims the City, which planted them, should cut them all down before damages become “a complete nightmare to repair.” … The case for keeping the trees appears clear-cut. The Sanitation Code states that the user is responsible for cleaning sewer and plumbing systems, and Public Works Director Dan Takasugi said the law puts the maintenance responsibility of such trees upon the abutting property owner. As to liability, when someone falls on the sidewalk where tree roots have caused a trip hazard, Takasugi said that state and city codes place the responsibility on the abutting property owner, “no matter who planted the tree.” In fact, once the city learns of such a hazard and repairs are not undertaken after a second notice to do so, the city is required to fix the problem – and place a lien on the property for the cost of repair… For once, shady legal practices would seem to favor the general public.
Further down Broadway, at the funky Fat Pilgrim property, the only question about oak is, how much aging for the Chardonnay? Owner Craig Miller has county approval to convert a small building (500 sq. ft.) into a wine tasting room. The eight-seat venue will offer paid tastings, by appointment only, and host two club events a year… These days, if you can’t open a tasting room, host a cell tower. The rental income is good, and thanks to laws essentially written by the providers, government agencies can’t deny approval. Next up: a 60-foot “faux water tank,” surrounded by a chain-link fence, in a Cypress Road lot. Don’t bother dialing up Verizon to complain – that’s one call that will drop no matter how many fake trees and towers they put up.
For Carole Peccorini, the memory and feeling of being in the August earthquake is beginning to fade a bit, “like dark socks washed and dried too many times.” But it’s important to remember, she said, and consider an even bigger shaker. “Can you imagine what you would feel if it stronger than last summer’s quake? And what would happen to our homes, the big trees and everything around us?” Thusly motivated, Peccorini helped organize a free Disaster Preparedness event on Saturday, January 31, 9 a.m. at El Verano Elementary School. Fire and Rescue experts will provide an intensive, hands-on training. “When I took the training a few years ago, we were told we should prepare for 72 hours of being on our own to care for those injured, and deal with fire. Are you ready?”
Marko Djordjevic, a jazz drummer playing Andrews Hall on January 24, likens the role of the drummer to that of goalie in soccer. Because any mistake is glaringly obvious and usually fatal, there are no good bands/teams without a solid, reliable drummer/goalkeeper, “except perhaps the Brazil 1982 Word Cup winning team — their keeper Valdir Peres was a laugh. This is an absolute impossibility in today’s game.” Be assured that the concert will not come down to penalty kicks.
Send your tips, quips and innuendo to Page3@sonomasun.com.
Be First to Comment