Staff Report.Weed Abatement
PREPARED BY: Meredith Johnston
Administrative Technician
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Parks and
Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/01/2023 ITEM NO: 11
DATE: July 17, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the 2023
Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution
Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct a public hearing to consider objections to the 2023 Weed Abatement Program
Assessment Report (Attachment 1) and adopt a resolution (Attachment 2) confirming the
report and authorizing collection of the assessment charges.
BACKGROUND:
The Weed Abatement Program (the Program) is a different, but complementary program to the
Brush Abatement Program. Both programs work to protect the Town by preventing fire
hazards created by vegetative growth and the accumulation of combustible debris with the goal
of voluntary compliance. The Town of Los Gatos Municipal Code Chapter 11, Article II, requires
property owners to prevent potential fire hazards to provide protection for the property and
any nearby structures by clearing hazards. The Program is administered by the County on
behalf of the Town and is funded from fees assessed on the properties included on the
assessment list. Every year while in the Program, each of the property owners are charged an
annual compliance inspection fee and some incur costs for additional inspections,
administrative, and abatement fees.
Typically, a property is placed in the Program after a County inspector identifies a potential fire
hazard on the premises. Fire Departments, Code Enforcement, Public Works, and other public
agencies can also submit complaints to the County. Once a parcel is placed in the Program, it
will remain until it displays compliance for three consecutive years, at which point it will be
removed.
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the 2023 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges DATE: July 17, 2023
BACKGROUND (continued):
Property owners in the Program are given the opportunity to abate their weeds prior to
receiving an annual compliance inspection by County staff to confirm if the property has been
cleared of hazards according to the requirements defined in the Santa Clara County Weed
Abatement Program
(https://weedabatement.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb431/files/Program-Guidelines-
Brochure.pdf). If the property owner has not complied with the requirements of the Program
by the time of the County inspection, then the Town authorizes the County to remove the
weeds. The County recovers its costs through a special assessment on each parcel’s property
tax bill.
On December 6, 2022, the Town Council passed Resolution 2022-074 (Attachment 3) declaring
hazardous vegetation (weeds) a public nuisance, providing for their abatement, and setting
January 17, 2023 as a public hearing date for the annual program. The County mailed property
owners a notice of the January 17, 2023 Public Hearing for the Los Gatos jurisdiction along with
guidelines on the Weed Abatement Program.
DISCUSSION:
The 2023 Weed Abatement Assessment Report list includes assessment charges for the annual
compliance inspection fee of $92, and any additional inspection, administrative, and abatement
fees as described in (Attachment 4). The attached resolution affirms these costs and
acknowledges the costs will be assessed by the County Tax Collector against the respective
properties.
In accordance with the Town Code Section 11.20.035, the assessment report was posted in
three (3) prominent places in Town, one (1) of which was posted at Town Hall. The Town of Los
Gatos mailed property owners a notice of the August 1, 2023 Public Hearing for the Los Gatos
jurisdiction, including detailed information on the assessment charges and contact information
for potential questions about the assessments (Attachment 5). A similar notice was also
published twice in the Los Gatos Weekly, a newspaper of general circulation published in the
Town. This public hearing is an opportunity to allow property owners who are on the
assessment report to object to the assessment. At this time, no objections have been received.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Council conduct a public hearing to consider objections to the 2023
Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and adopt a resolution confirming the report
and authorizing collection of the assessment charges.
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the 2023 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges DATE: July 17, 2023
COORDINATION:
This program has been coordinated with the County's Consumer and Environmental Protection
Agency (CEPA) - Weed Abatement Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds allocated in the adopted Operating Budget cover the cost of publishing the legal notices
for the program. The County’s cost to administer and carry out the program are recovered
through the tax roll assessment charges levied against the properties included in the
assessment report.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. 2023 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report
2. Resolution Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges
3. Resolution 2022-074 Declaring Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) a Public Nuisance and
Providing for their Abatement
4. County Letter to Property Owners (December)
5. Town Letter to Property Owners (July)