13 Staff Report - Abatement of Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds)°W N 0 MEETING DATE: 8/6/07
\ ITEM NO:
toA~os COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: JULY 10, 2007
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
, ")_j-
FROM: PAMELA JACOBS, INTERIM TOWN MANAGER "SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS
A. CONSIDER THE REPORT OF THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE THAT ALL IDENTIFIED PROPERTIES
ACHIEVED VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCEWITH REGARD TO THE
ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION FOR THE 2006-2007
SEASON
B. TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Consider the report of the County Agricultural Commissioner's Office that all identified
properties achieved voluntary compliance with regard to the abatement of hazardous
vegetation for the 2006-2007 season.
2. Take no further action.
BACKGROUND:
Hazardous Vegetation (weeds) poses a serious fire danger during the summer months and should
be controlled by individual property owners. To ensure that hazardous vegetation (weeds) is
eliminated, the Town Council established a Hazardous Vegetation (Weed) Abatement Program
in cooperation with the Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner's Office. This program,
which is similar to those in neighboring jurisdictions, is modeled after the Town's nuisance
abatement process. It begins each year in late fall with the adoption of a resolution declaring
hazardous vegetation (weeds) to be a public nuisance, and ends the following summer with a
public hearing to confirm charges against properties on which weeds were abated by the
County's contractor.
i
PREPARED BY: KEVIN ROHANI
Interim Director of Parks and Public Works
N:AENGINEER]NG\COUNCIL REPORTS\weeds.8607.100%compliance.doc
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager 4Town Attorney
Clerk Administrator Finance Community Development
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS)
JULY 10, 2007
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this year, the County Agricultural Commissioner's Office inspected properties in the
Town and notified the owners of those on which hazardous vegetation (weeds) was observed to
remove the weeds in accordance with fire safety standards.
Staff is pleased to report that 100 percent of the 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 property owners and the County Agricultural Commissioner's Office.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
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:
Greg Van Wassenhove, Director, County of Santa Clara, Department of Agriculture and
Resource Management, 1553 Berger Drive, Building #l, San Jose, CA 95112
Moe Kumbre, Program Coordinator, County of Santa Clara, Department of Agriculture and
Resource Management, 1553 Berger Drive, Building #1, San Jose, CA 95112