20 Staff Report - Abatement of Hazardous Vegetation (Brush)
DATE: TO: FROM: COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT JULY 13,2004 DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER MEETING DATE: 8/2/04 ITEM NO. dO SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS
VEGETATION (BRUSH) A. CONDUCTPUBLIC HEARINGTO CONSIDERTHEREPORT OF THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL (AV IN THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE) ON THE ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH)
FOR THE 2003-2004 SEASON B. TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION RECOMMENDATION: 1. Conduct public hearing to consider the report of the County Fire Marshal (available in the Town Clerk's office)
on the abatement of hazardous vegetation (brush) for the 2003-2004 season. 2. Take no further action. BACKGROUND: Hazardous vegetation (brush) poses a serious fire danger during the
summer months and should be controlled by individual property owners. To ensure that hazardous vegetation (brush) is eliminated, the Town Council established a Hazardous Vegetation (Brush)
Abatement Program in cooperation with the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal's office. The program, which which is similar to those in neighboring jurisdictions, is modeled after the Town's
nuisance abatement process. It begins each year in late spring with the adoption of a resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) to be a public nuisance, and ends the following
summer with a public hearing to confirm charges against properties on which brush was abated by the County's contractor. PREPARED BY: J HNE. CURTIS irector of Parks and Public
Works Reviewed by: t?$S Assistant Town Manager --kl7fr-''Attorney __Clerk.__Finance __Community Development Revised: 7/13/04 7:57 am Reformatted: 5/30/02 N:\B&E\COUNCIL REPORTS\brush8204.
IOO%compliance.wpd
PAGE 2 SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH) JULy 13,2004 DISCUSSION: Earlier this year, the County Fire Marshal inspected properties
in the Town and notified the owners of those on which hazardous vegetation (brush) was observed to remove the brush in accordance with fire safety standards. Staffis pleased to report
that 100 percent ofthe identified properties achieved voluntary compliance. Therefore staff recommends that no further action be taken on this item. CONCLUSION: The fact that full compliance
was achieved voluntarily speaks well for the cooperative efforts between the citizens and the County Fire Marshal. FISCAL IMPACT: None for the Town. The County costs to administer and
carry out the program are recovered via charges levied against the properties served by the program. Distribution: Dirk Mattern, Central Fire District, 14700 Winchester Boulevard, Los
Gatos, CA 95030 Debbie Craver, Program Coordinator, Hazardous Vegetation Management, Office ofthe Santa Clara County Fire Marshal,70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110 -.\