Hazardous Vegetation (Weed Abatement)lowx o
!ps �F�pS COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: JULY 23, 2014
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 08/05/14
ITEM NO: I
SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM)
A. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ASSESSMENT
REPORT FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE OF THE AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONER FOR THE 2014 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
B. ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING SAID ASSESSMENT REPORT.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Conduct Public Hearing to consider the Assessment Report from the County Office of the
Agricultural Commissioner for the 2014 Weed Abatement Program. (Attachment 1).
2. Adopt a resolution approving said assessment report (Attachment 2).
BACKGROUND:
Hazardous vegetation poses a fire threat during the summer months and property owners are
required to address and control this issue pursuant to Chapter 11.20 of the Los Gatos Municipal
Code.
To eliminate hazardous vegetation, the Town Council annually adopts a Hazardous Vegetation
Abatement Program. The Town conducts this program with Santa Clara County's Office of the
Agricultural Commissioner, which serves as the inspection and enforcement agent for the
program.
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this year, the County gave notice to property owners to abate weeds on properties which
were identified with a potential fire hazard. Properties which were not cleared by the owners
before the specified date were subsequently cleared by a contractor hired by the County.
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY � ��
Director of Parks and Publie Works
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager tq0rown Attorney
PAGE 2
JULY 23, 2014
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEED ABATEMENT
PROGRAM)
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
Upon completion of the work, the Office of the County Agricultural Commissioner prepared an
assessment report documenting the properties which were cleared by the County and the costs
for administering and performing the work.
CONCLUSION:
The properties identified in the 2014 report have benefited from the Hazardous Vegetation
Abatement Program by virtue of the County removing the hazardous vegetation on these
properties. Therefore, the property owners should be charged for the cost of removing hazardous
vegetation under the program. The attached resolution affirms these costs and acknowledges the
costs will be assessed against the respective properties.
Staff recommends that the Town Council accept and approve the assessment report from the
County Office of the Agricultural Commissioner. Upon said approval, the report will be filed
with the County Tax Collector for placement of charges on the ensuing property tax roll.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the Town. The County's costs to administer and carry out the
program are recovered via the charges levied against the properties served by the program.
Attachments:
1. 2014 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report from the County Office of the
Agricultural Commissioner.
2. Resolution adopting assessment report from the County Office of the Agricultural
Commissioner.
Distribution:
Amy Brown, Director of Agriculture and Environmental Management for Santa Clara County,
1553 Berger Drive, Building #1, San Jose, CA 95112
Moe Kumre, Coordinator, Weed Abatement Program, County Office of the Agricultural
Commissioner, 1553 Berger Drive, Building #1, San Jose, CA 95112
Special Distribution:
List of assessed property owners
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RESOLUTION 2014-
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
ADOPTING REPORT DESCRIBING PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY,
AND SHOWING AMOUNT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS)
ABATEMENT ASSESSMENTS TO BE COLLECTED ON
THE SECURED PROPERTY TAX ROLL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2013/14
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, pursuant to Sections 39501
and 39502 of the Government Code of the State of California, has adopted by ordinance a
procedure for the abatement of hazardous vegetation (weeds) and the collection of the charges
therefore on the tax roll, as contained in Chapter 11, Article Il, Sections 11.20.010. through
11.20.045. of the Los Gatos Town Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant thereto, Resolution No. 2013 -050 declaring weeds a public
nuisance and providing for their abatement, was adopted by the Town Council on November 18,
2013; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to notice duly and regularly given, the public hearing was held
with respect thereto on January 21, 2014, overruling objections and ordering abatement of weeds
as a public nuisance, was adopted by the Town Council; and
WHEREAS, a written report has been filed with the Clerk Administrator of the Town of
Los Gatos, containing a description of each parcel of real property, and showing the amount of
the charge to be collected on the secured property tax roll with respect thereto, computed in
conformity with the charges prescribed by said ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk Administrator has set the 5th day of August, 2014, in the Town
Council Chambers, Town Hall, 110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, California, as the time and
place when and where said Town Council would hear and consider all objections or protest, if
any, to said report.
ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLVED, by the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, County of Santa Clara,
State of California, that the Town Council does hereby find and declare:
1. That notice of said public hearing was duly and regularly published and given as
required by Section 11.20.035 of the Los Gatos Town Code and as otherwise
required by law; and
2. All persons desiring to be heard during said hearing were given an opportunity to
do so, all matters and things pertaining to said report were fully heard and
considered by the Town Council, and all protests and objections, if any, are
hereby overruled.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that said report, and each charge thereon, with any charges
that may be noted on the face of said report pursuant to action taken by this Town Council, is
hereby confirmed and approved.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the charges are affirmed and shall be assessed against the
real properties listed on the property tax bill if not sooner paid.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of
Los Gatos, California, held on the 5a' day of August, 2014, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA