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: 06/18/2019
ITEM NO: 15
DATE: JUNE 12, 2019
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE THE FINAL REPORT ON THE HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH)
ABATEMENT ANNUAL PROGRAM FOR 2019
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the final report on the hazardous vegetation (brush) abatement annual program for
2019.
BACKGROUND:
In February 2019, the Santa Clara County Fire Prevention Division identified 1,843 Los Gatos
incorporated properties located within the designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area and
notified property owners of their requirement to comply with the enforced safety regulations
related to flammable vegetation abatement. The notice (Attachment 1) provided property
owners with an option to complete the required work themselves, hire their own contractor, or
elect to schedule the Town of Los Gatos’ authorized contractor to perform the work.
On April 1, 2019, the SCCFD began conducting re-inspections of the properties identified in
February. As a result of these re-inspections, a letter was sent to those property owners who
were not yet in compliance at that time with the WUI enforced safety regulations. The notice
(Attachment 2) provided information on a public hearing which was to be scheduled for June
18, 2019 that would identify all properties not in compliance as of June 18th and declare them
as having hazardous conditions requiring abatement.
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SUBJECT: RECEIVE THE FINAL REPORT ON THE HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH)
ABATEMENT ANNUAL PROGRAM FOR 2019
JUNE12, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\06-18-19\Brush abatement\Staff Report.docx 6/12/2019 5:23 PM SH
BACKGROUND (continued):
On May 7, 2019, concurrent with the inspections and noticing and as a requirement of this
annual program, the Town Council adopted a resolution (Attachment 3) declaring hazardous
vegetation (brush) a public nuisance, providing for abatement, and setting the June 18, 2019
public hearing date. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider all objections to those
properties within the WUI area identified by the Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) as
being non-compliant with the WUI Safety Regulations and declaring those properties as
hazardous conditions requiring abatement.
On June 1, 2019, the SCCFD began conducting additional re-inspections of the properties that
were out of compliance at the time of the April inspections.
DISCUSSION:
Re-inspections of non-compliant properties continued to be conducted by the SCCFD and on
June 6, 2019, the SCCFD confirmed with Parks and Public Works staff that all property owners
have complied with the enforced safety regulations by abating the hazardous vegetation and
there will be no assessments to any of the owners’ property tax bills.
CONCLUSION:
Since all property owners complied, there will be no County assessments to any of the owners’
property tax bills, and there is no need to hold a public hearing for abatement and assessment
of costs, thus concluding the annual program. Staff recommends that the Town Council accept
the final report on the hazardous vegetation (brush) abatement annual program for 201 9.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
COORDINATION:
This program is coordinated with the Santa Clara County Fire Prevention Division.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: RECEIVE THE FINAL REPORT ON THE HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH)
ABATEMENT ANNUAL PROGRAM FOR 2019
JUNE12, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\06-18-19\Brush abatement\Staff Report.docx 6/12/2019 5:23 PM SH
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Notice to Property Owners (February)
2. Notice to Property Owners (April)
3. Resolution 2019-019