20 Addendum Weed Abatement
PREPARED BY: Meredith Johnston
Administrative Technician Parks and Public Works
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/06/2024 ITEM NO: 20 ADDENDUM
DATE: August 2, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider Objections to the 2024 Weed
Abatement Program Assessment Report and Adopt a Resolution Confirming
the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges
REMARKS:
Attachment 7 contains a response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager in regards to the
protest of the proposed 2024 Weed Abatement Report for APN 537-28-005 (Attachment 6).
Attachment 8 contains public comments received between Thursday, August 1, 2024 11:01 a.m.
and Friday, August 2, 2024 11:00 a.m.
Attachment 9 contains a response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager in regards to the
protest of the proposed 2024 Weed Abatement Report for APN 409-15-021 (Attachment 8).
ATTACHMENTS:
Previously received with the August 6, 2024 Staff Report:
1. 2024 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report
2. Resolution Confirming the Report and Authorizing Collection of the Assessment Charges
3. Resolution 2023-066 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)
6. Public Comment Received
Received with this Addendum:
7. Response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager on Thursday, August 1, 2024 in
regards to Attachment 6.
8. Public comments received between Thursday, August 1, 2024 11:01 a.m. and Friday, August
2, 2024 11:00 a.m.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program Public Hearing DATE: August 2, 2024 Received with this Addendum (continued):
9. Response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager on Friday, August 2, 2024 in regards
to Attachment 8.
From: Kumre, Moe <Moe.Kumre@cep.sccgov.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 1, 2024 1:41 PM
To: Meredith Johnston <MJohnston@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: RE: Protest of Proposed Weed Abatement Report - August 6 Public Hearing
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Meredith
This property was added in 2023 as stated it had high grass and weeds at the time of the
inspection. It is clear that the construction company didn’t manage the grass and weeds. The
property owner is misreading the information. First, this program has been in place within the
town for a very long time, and the documents stated this was an annual process. Also, the
owner was notified of the January hearing. This was his opportunity to contest being in the
program. They had responded to the original notice but did not contest it at that hearing. The
property passed the inspection, and we are attempting to recover the cost of the inspection. All
of these complaints should have been heard at the January hearing. Once the list was
authorized, we were required to inspect and recover the cost assessed on the property tax bill.
Moe Kumre
Weed Abatement Manager
County of Santa Clara
Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency
office: (408)282-3123 email: moe.kumre@cep.sccgov.org
ATTACHMENT 7
ATTACHMENT 8
From: Sundar
Sent: Friday, August 2, 2024 9:20 AM
To: Clerk <Clerk@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Mulberry Drive - Protest Against Inclusion in Weed Abatement Program
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Wendy Wood,
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to formally protest the inclusion of my property, located
at Mulberry Drive Los Gatos, 95032 in the town's weed abatement program.
Firstly, I was not aware of the existence of such a program until I received a letter from Santa Clara
county weed abatement in May 2023, after they had flagged my property. I did not receive any prior
warning or notice to clear weeds as mentioned in the town's notice. Immediately after received the
letter, I reached out to the SCCWeed Abatement team and I was told that I need to wait for the
Town's meeting to protest the inclusion.
I believe there has been a misunderstanding regarding the condition and maintenance of my
property, and I would like to provide some context to clarify the situation.
In April 2023, the county weed abatement team took a picture of my property when I was in the
process of obtaining a new construction permit for the said property. I have been regularly
maintaining the property free from weeds and had just cleared in March 2023, but due to the
showers in March and April, the weeds had regrown by the time the picture was taken in April.
Additionally, this was an unfortunate timing as well, as I was also affected by a job loss last year
and was deeply involved in job search activities. Despite the unfortunate timing, I cleared the
weeds right away after coming to know of such a program, but I had to wait for this meeting / notice
to officially protest, as per the SCC Abatement team.
Since then, the property has been diligently maintained and kept free of weeds. Additionally, I am
currently in the process of getting a remodel permit and plan to lay a new driveway in the coming
months, which will further improve the property's upkeep and appearance.
Redacted
Redacted
ATTACHMENT 8
Given these circumstances, I kindly request that the town consider this as a one-time issue and
exclude my property from the weed abatement program. I assure you that I am committed to
maintaining the property in accordance with town regulations and standards moving forward.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration. I look forward to your favorable response.
Sincerely,
Sundar Swaminathan
ATTACHMENT 9
From: Kumre, Moe <Moe.Kumre@cep.sccgov.org>
Sent: Friday, August 2, 2024 9:50 AM
To: Meredith Johnston <MJohnston@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: RE: Mulberry Drive - Protest Against Inclusion in Weed Abatement Program
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Meredith
This was added in 2023 and the owner indicated in this message that they received that notice. We
sent to the same address the annual commencement notice which also provided information
about the commencement hearing. This would have been the opportunity to contest the inclusion
in the program. The hearing we are having on Tuesday is to approve the fees. The fee being assessed
here is the inspection fee only. The inspection was conducted as approved by the town council and
is to recover the cost of that inspection. Every property in the program can protest the inclusion in
the program at the commencement hearing. This is the wrong hearing for that protest.
Moe Kumre
Weed Abatement Manager
County of Santa Clara
Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency
office: (408)282-3123 email: moe.kumre@cep.sccgov.org
Redacted