Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/01/2017
ITEM NO: 15
DATE: JULY 19, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: CONSIDER THE 2017 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT
FROM THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE
REPORT AND AUTHORIZING COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENT CHARGES
RECOMMENDATION:
After opening and closing the public hearing, it is recommended that the Town Council consider
the 2017 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report from the County of Santa Clara
Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency (Attachment 1) and adopt a resolution
(Attachment 2) confirming the report and authorizing collection of the assessment charges.
BACKGROUND:
Hazardous vegetation (weeds) pose a fire threat during the summer months and it is the
individual property owner’s responsibility to control them. To eliminate hazardous vegetation
(weeds), the Town adopted a Hazardous Vegetation (Weed) Abatement Program (Town Code
Chapter 11, Article II).
Since 1978, the Town’s Hazardous Vegetation Abatement of Weeds Program has been
administered through a contract with Santa Clara County. The County’s Consumer and
Environmental Protection Agency (Weed Abatement Division) identifies properties in Los Gatos
with hazardous vegetation and/or weeds and notifies the property owners. The property
owners are given a specific timeline to remove the vegetation, and if they do not, a contractor
selected by the County removes the vegetation. The cost for the abatement is then passed on
to the owner as an assessment on their property tax bill.
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: CONSIDER THE 2017 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT
FROM THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE REPORT
AND AUTHORIZING COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENT CHARGES
JULY 19, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\08-01-17\Hazardous Vegetation.Weeds\Staff Report Final.docx 7/27/2017 11:15 AM SH
BACKGROUND (cont’d):
On December 6, 2016, the Town Council passed Resolution 2016-066 (Attachment 3) declaring
hazardous vegetation (weeds) a public nuisance, providing for their abatement, and set January
17, 2017 as the public hearing date for the annual program.
Following the January 17, 2017 meeting, the property owners listed on the commencement
report were notified by the County of Santa Clara informing them of the deadline to abate the
weeds. Property owners were given the option of maintaining their parcels prior to the
specified deadline or requesting that the county contractor perform the weed abatement,
adding the charges to their property tax bill.
DISCUSSION:
The 2017 Weed Abatement Assessment Report (Attachment 1) lists the property owners who
have benefitted from the Weed Abatement Program and includes assessment charges for initial
inspection fees and for performing the weed abatement . The Town of Los Gatos mailed
property owners a notice of the August 1, 2017 Public Hearing for the Los Gatos jurisdiction,
along with the assessment charges.
The attached resolution affirms these costs and acknowledges the costs will be assessed by the
County Tax Collector against the respective properties.
CONCLUSION:
After opening and closing the public hearing, it is recommended that the Town Coun cil consider
the 2017 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report from the County of Santa Clara
Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency (Attachment 1) and adopt a resolution
(Attachment 2) confirming the report and authorizing collection of the assessme nt charges.
COORDINATION:
This program has been coordinated with the Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental
Protection Agency’s Weed Abatement Division.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: CONSIDER THE 2017 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM ASSESSMENT REPORT
FROM THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE REPORT
AND AUTHORIZING COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENT CHARGES
JULY 19, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\08-01-17\Hazardous Vegetation.Weeds\Staff Report Final.docx 7/27/2017 11:15 AM SH
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds were provided in the 2016/17 Budget (Program 5101) to cover the cost of publishing the
legal notices. The County’s cost to administer and carry out the program are recovered through
the tax roll assessment charges levied against the affected properties.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. 2017 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report from the County of Santa Clara.
2. Resolution 2017-XX Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment
Charges.
3. Resolution 2016-066 Declaring Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) a Public Nuisance and
Providing for their Abatement.
4. Public Comment