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: 12/04/2018
ITEM NO: 3
DATE: NOVEMBER 29, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS VEGETATION ABATEMENT (WEEDS)
A. ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING WEEDS A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND
PROVIDING FOR THEIR ABATEMENT.
B. SET JANUARY 15, 2019 AS THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THIS ANNUAL
PROGRAM.
RECOMMENDATION:
After opening and closing the public hearing, staff recommends that the Town Council consider:
1. Adopting a resolution (Attachment 1) declaring hazardous vegetation (weeds) a public
nuisance and providing for their abatement.
2. Setting January 15, 2019 as the public hearing date for this annual program.
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 (We ed) 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 Department of
Agriculture and Environmental Management (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.
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SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS VEGETATION ABATEMENT (WEEDS)
NOVEMBER 29, 2018
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DISCUSSION:
Parcels throughout the Town that represent a potential hazard due to weeds or combustible
materials have been added to a Weed Abatement Program list maintained by the County. The
attached resolution represents the first step in the Town of Los Gatos’ Hazardous Vegetation
Abatement Program process and declares the vegetation or debris on these properties as being
a potential hazard and public nuisance.
A public hearing will be held on January 15, 2019 for the Council to consider the Weed
Abatement Program Commencement Report and order the abatement of hazardous vegetation
for the listed parcels.
A schedule of the upcoming Weed Abatement Program is as follows:
November 2018 The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Management prepares a list of properties requiring abatement.
December 4, 2018 Town Council passes a Resolution (Attachment 1) declaring hazardous
vegetation (weeds) a nuisance and sets a public hearing for January 15,
2019.
December 7, 2018 The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Management sends property owners a notice to abate weeds and of the
time and place of the January 15, 2019 public hearing.
December 2018 Town Clerk submits a legal publication to the Los Gatos Weekly to
advertise for the January 15, 2019 public hearing.
January 15, 2019 Public Hearing - Town Council conducts a public hearing and considers
the Weed Abatement Program Commencement Report and orders
abatement of hazardous vegetation (weeds).
April 2019 Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management begins to
inspect Los Gatos properties. Properties which have not been cleared of
hazardous vegetation will be abated by a contractor for the Department
of Agriculture and Environmental Management for an additional fee.
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SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS VEGETATION ABATEMENT (WEEDS)
NOVEMBER 29, 2018
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DISCUSSION (continued):
June 2019 Town Clerk submits a legal publication to the Los Gatos Weekly to
advertise for the August 6, 2019 public hearing.
August 6, 2019 Town Council conducts a public hearing to consider the 2019 Weed
Abatement Program Assessment Report and adopts a resolution to
confirm the report and authorize collection of the assessment charges.
August 7, 2019 Town Clerk files a confirmed report of parcel charges to the County Office
of the Assessor to enter on the County tax roll as a special assessment.
CONCLUSION:
After opening and closing the public hearing, staff recommends that the Town Council consider :
1. Adopting a resolution (Attachment 1) declaring hazardous vegetation (weeds) a public
nuisance and providing for their abatement.
2. Setting January 15, 2019 as the public hearing date for this annual program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County’s Weed Abatement Program administers services for 13 local agencies under a cost
recovery model, paid for by fees imposed on the parcel owners. The estimated program cost
related to each agency is based on the number of parcels per agency. Funds are provided in the
FY 2018/19 Operating Budget to cover the cost of publishing all required legal notices.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Resolution Declaring Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) a Public Nuisance and Providing for
their Abatement
Distribution:
Moe Kumre, Manager, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, County of Santa Clara,
1553 Berger Drive, San Jose, CA 95112