Ald. Robert Bauman is sponsoring a measure that would exempt property owners from  assessments for new sidewalk sections if the sidewalk damage necessitating replacement is caused by city trees.

The measure is expected to be considered today by the Common Council’s Public Works Committee.

South-of-Bluemound Rd. Story Hill property owners got new sidewalks last in the fall and will be looking at sizeable special assessments for those sidewalks on their next property bills.

Some of the old sidewalks were damaged by roots from city trees — as the trees grew, the roots pushed up the sidewalk slabs. The city’s attitude was basically “too bad, so sad” — the adjoining property owner was liable for 50% of the cost of the replacement sidewalk slab. That is the standard sidewalk assessment rate.

Any chance of making the “city tree exemption” retroactive?