Of sewers and sidewalks

Los Angeles homeowners would see their sewer fees nearly double by 2017 under a plan approved Monday by a City Council committee.Daily News.

The proposal OK'd by the Budget and Finance Committee would raise fees by 4.5 percent a year from 2012-15 and by an additional 6.5 percent in 2016 and 2017. That top rate would remain in effect through 2022.

A look at passing on sidewalk cost

With walkways crumbling and the city short of cash, the City Council is weighing a plan to shift responsibility and legal liability for sidewalk damage to property owners. Daily News.

Under current city and state law, property owners are already responsible for some sidewalk damage, but the city takes care of tree roots - one of the biggest problems. One of the proposals before two council committees on Wednesday would close that loophole.