Under the proposed ordinance, homeowners will have to maintain the sidewalks fronting their property. City Attorney Richard Taylor said state law requires that homeowners do so.

"It was always the state law but the city has been maintaining the sidewalks all these years," Taylor said.

The law also allows a city to charge property owners for sidewalk repairs that might have to be performed on their behalf. The city added a provision to the proposed ordinance that property owners will be liable for personal or property damage resulting from their failure to perform sidewalk maintenance obligations.

John Cherbone, public works director, said the proposed ordinance will help people be aware of their obligations.

"It's a fiscal issue. We don't have the money to do those repairs anymore," Cherbone said. He also said the Association of Bay Area Governments has recommended that the city have a similar ordinance to the one being used by the city of San Jose.

There are about 15 miles of sidewalks in the city.

"Saratoga doesn't have a lot of sidewalks. There are some near the schools and there are some next to the main arterial roads," Cherbone said.

He said that as a general rule, sidewalks do not require a lot of maintenance. "Sometimes they can last up to 50 years," he said.

"The issue we have in Saratoga is that sometimes trees might be responsible for sidewalk damage if there is an underlying root below."

"This is the first hearing. If the city council members say yes to the ordinance, they will have to vote on it again at the next council meeting," Taylor said.

The city council meeting will be held at the Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., on June 15, 7 p.m.