20 Desk Item 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 DESK ITEM
DATE: August 6, 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 10 contains a public comment received between Monday, August 5, 2024, 11:01
a.m. and August 6, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
The protest is for parcel number:
409-15-021
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 Previous Addendum:
7. Response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager on Thursday, August 1, 2024 in
regards to Attachment 6.
8. Public comment received between Thursday, August 1, 2024 11:01 a.m. and Friday, August
2, 2024 11:00 a.m.
9. Response provided by the Weed Abatement Manager on Friday, August 2, 2024 in regards
to Attachment 8.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program Public Hearing DATE: August 6, 2024 Received with this Desk Item:
10. Public comment received between Monday, August 5, 2024, 11:01 a.m. and August 6, 2024,
11:00 a.m.
ATTACHMENT 10
From: Sundar
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 7:29 AM
To: Clerk <Clerk@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Re: Mulberry Drive - Protest Against Inclusion in Weed Abatement Program
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Hello,
Based on the call I had with the SCC Country Weed Abatement team and Los Gatos
PPW team, I want to emphasize and also add a couple of additional points to consider
here.
1. It is claimed that multiple mails have been sent in this regard to me, but I have so far
gotten only 2 mails on this subject. One in May of 2023, after which I immediately
cleared the driveway and the second one recently after which I am writing this protest
letter. Looks like I should have gotten a warning letter earlier, giving me time to clear the
weeds by myself, which I haven't gotten and also another mail "Notice to Destroy
Weeds, with a blue reply form" in the beginning of 2024 , which was also not received.
2. As I mentioned before, the driveway was cleared immediately after learning of this
issue and has been maintained as such since then. The team performed another
inspection before a couple of weeks and didn't find any weeds.
3. We are currently in the process of remodel and the driveway would also be levelled
and compacted as part of that.
4. Attaching the latest pic of the property for your reference.
Thanks.
Regards,
Sundar
Redacted
ATTACHMENT 10
ATTACHMENT 10
On Friday, August 2, 2024 at 09:19:35 AM PDT, Sundar wrote:
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.
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
Redacted