Attachment 3County of Santa Clara
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management
Weed Abatement Division
1553 Berger Drive
Building I
San Jose, CA 95112
(408)282-314s
Fax (408) 286-2460
December 7,2017
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ABATE WEEDS
Dear Property Owner
To protect your property and the surrounding area from possible fire, your jurisdiction contracts with the
County of Santa Clara to operate a Weed Abatement Program. You are receiving this notice and
information because it has been determined that your parcel is part of this Program. Please read the
information carefully and contact us for clarification or additional information.
Your jurisdiction has or will adopt a resolution declaring your property as one that may contain potential
fire hazards from weeds or other debris. In addition, your jurisdiction will be conducting a public hearing
to consider an abatement order requiring you to remove anyhazardous vegetation or combustible debris by
the deadline in the attached schedule. The public hearing will be held on the date and atthe place stated in
the attached notice and provides an opportunity for you to raise any objections or concerns to these
requirements.
The Weed Abatement Program will work with you if your property is habitat to protected species of plants
and/or animals. If you believe your parcel includes an environmentally sensitive habifat, please cheık the
box and provide additional information on the reply form to assist us in determining the best approach to
weed abatement at your property.
If after the public hearing, abatement is approved for your property, the County is authorized by its contract
with the cities and the California Health and Safety Code sections 14875-14922 to inspect your property to
determine whether the property has been cleared of hazards according to Minimum Fire Safety Standards
(see enclosed brochure). Inspections will begin after the abatement deadline for your jurisdiction. This
notice does not relieve you of your responsibility to complete the necessary work prior to the deadline for
your jurisdiction. You will be responsible for an annual fee of $90 to cover the cost of the compliance
inspection.
If you fail to complete the required abatement prior to the County inspection of your property, you will be
responsible for an inspection fee of $583 per parcel, and your property will be scheduled for service by the
County contractor. If you complete the work before the County begins abating your property, you will not
incur further charges. Should the abatement work be completed by the County, you will be assessed the
County contractor's charges plus an administrative fee of $576 per parcel.
The County will use the least costly method of abatement considering the physical characteristics of your
properfy and environmental concerns. Fees are detailed in the attached price list. The total amount will be
included as a special assessment on your property tax bill following confirmation of the charges by your
jurisdiction. Notice of the date of that meeting will be posted at a location prescribed by your jurisdiction
(typically at the Civic Center) at least three days prior to the meeting.
Board of supervisors: Mike wasseÍnan, cindy chavez, Dave cortese, Ken Yeager, S. Joseph Simitian
County Executive: Jeffrey V. Smith
You can avoid all costs, other than the annual fee, by completing the abatement work yourself
according to Minimum Fire Safety Standards (see enclosed brochure) prior to the abatement
deadline for your jurisdiction 4{ maintaining the Minimum Fire Safety Standards for the duration
of fire season' which typically runs through October. Parcels will be removed from the program after
three (3) consecutÍve years of voluntary compliance (work completed prior to the deadline).
In preparation for this program, please complete and retum the enclosed Reply Form so that we are aware
of your intentions regarding the maintenance of your property.
If you designate in your reply that you intend to abate the weeds yourself, you are expected to
complete the abatement before the deadline listed on the abatement schedule and maintain fire safe
conditions for the duration of the fire season. Responding that you intend to provide maintenance
yourself does not release you from this responsibitity to have the mainten ance completed before your
deadline and repeated as necessary to maintain Minimum X'ire Safe Standards. County contractors
will proceed to abate hazardous vegetation as necessary after the deadline for your jurisdiction.
Enclosed you will fïnd the following information:
{ A Reply Form specific to your property. Please complete and return promptly.
./ A Notice to Destroy Weeds informing you of an upcoming public meeting that you must
attend ifyou have any objections to the proposed removal ofhazardous vegetation or debris
from your property.
{ A Weed Abatement Program Schedule for your city and a current County price list.
'V A Brochure about the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement program.
Please be aware that any abatement performed by the County contractor must be in compliance with all
applicable environmental protection regulations. Ifyour properfy falls within aî areadesignated as possible
habitat for burrowing owls or any other protected species of bird or animal, the methods used to remove
vegetation may be regulated by specific laws or local ordinances.
If you are no longer the owner of the properly identified by this mailing, please noti$ the County
immediately. If you sell your property after the date of this letter, it is your responsibility to notifu the new
owner and to include the obligation to pay any abatement costs in your agreement of sale. Without taking
this action, you will be responsible for all hazard abatement charges assessed to the property.
Our goal is voluntary compliance with the Minimum Fire Safety Standards, and it is our objective to ensure
that all properties remain safe from fire. If you have any questions about your property or need on-site
advice to help you achieve compliance with the Minimum Fire Standards, please call the Santa Clara
County Weed Abatement Program at (408) 282-3145.
Sincerely,
irector
and Environmental Protection Agency
(over)
TRA 03
Notice to
Destroy
Weeds
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 21, 2017, pursuant to the provisions of Section
11.20.020 of the Town Code of the Town of Los Gatos, the Town Council of said Town adopted a
Resolution declaring that all weeds growing upon any private property or in any street, sidewalk or
alley, as defined in Section 11.20.020 of such code, constitute a public nuisance, which nuisance
must be abated by the destruction or removal thereof.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that property owners shall within thirty days after the adoption of
such resolution, or within the time specified in a written agreement with the Director of Parks and
Pubic Works of the Town of Los Gatos, or the Director of Parks and Pubic Works' representative,
whichever time shall be later, remove all such weeds from their property, the abutting sidewalks, and
the abutting half of the street in front, and alleys, if any, behind such property, and between the lot
lines thereof as extended, or such weeds will be destroyed or removed and such nuisance abated by
the Town of Los Gatos, in which case the cost of such destruction or removal will be assessed upon
the lots and lands from which, or from the front or rear of which, such weeds shall have been
destroyed or removed; and such cost will constitute a lien upon such lots or lands until paid, and will
be collected upon the next tax roll upon which general municipal taxes are collected. All property
owners having any objections to the proposed destruction or removal of such weeds are hereby
notified to attend a meeting of the Town Council of such Town to be held in the Council Chambers
of said Town at 110 East Main Street, Los Gatos, California, on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 7:00
p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, when their objections will be heard and given
due consideration.
The language and format for this notice is required by California Health and Safety Code Sections
14891 Et. Seq.
(over)
LOS GATOS WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
January 16, 2018 Public hearing to consider objections to Abatement List.
April 15, 2018 PARCEL ABATEMENT DEADLINE
Parcel must be free from hazardous vegetation by this date
or Inspector will order abatement.
July-August, 2018 Assessment Hearing to protest abatement charges
. (Date subject to change, please confirm with City Clerk)
2018 COUNTY WEED ABATEMENT FEES
Properties in the Weed Abatement Program, you will be responsible for an annual inspection fee of
$90.00 per parcel.
Please be advised that the property owner of any parcel found to be non-compliant on or after
the April 15th deadline will be charged an inspection fee of $583.00 and the property will be
scheduled for abatement by the County contractor. If you complete the abatement work
before the County contractor performs the abatement, you will not incur further charges.
Should the abatement work be performed by a County contractor, you will be assessed the
contractor’s charges plus a County administrative fee of $576.00 per parcel.
2018 COUNTY CONTRACTOR’S WEED ABATEMENT PRICE LIST
A) Disc Work**
PARCEL SIZE: 1st Disc + 2nd Disc = Total Discs
0-12,500 sq.ft. $202.86 $136.00 $338.86
12,501sq.ft.- 43,560sq.ft. $235.72 $170.00 $405.72
Larger than 1 Acre $100.87 $89.53 $190.40 (PER ACRE)
** It is required that parcels be disced twice a year. The cost for the first discing is higher due to
additional work normally required during the first discing.
B) HANDWORK $3.38 PER 100 sqft
C) FLAIL 6 Foot Mower $4.50 PER 1000 sqft
MOWING 12 Foot Mower $3.50 PER 1000 sqft
D) LOADER WORK $110.50 PER HOUR
E) DUMP TRUCK $102.00 PER HOUR
F) BRUSH WORK $3.38 PER 100 sqft
G) Debris removal $38.86 PER 1000sqft
G) DUMP FEE 100%
Added to orders with debris removal at 100% of the dump site charge.
*Please note this program does not offer herbicide application as a method of abatement.
MINIMUM FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS
Fire Safety
Through
Vegetation
Management
Fire Resistant Landscaping
Santa Clara County
Consumer and Environmental
Protection Agency
Weed Abatement Program
1553 Berger Drive #1
San Jose, Ca 95112
Phone (408) 282-3145
Fax: (408) 286-2460
SCC.WeedAbatement@cep.sccgov.org
1. Vegetation must not exceed 6 inches in height any time after the compliance deadline.
2. Maintain grasses and weeds below 6 inches for 10 feet horizontally on both sides of all roadways, including
driveways and access routes. Roads and Driveways must maintain a clearance of 10’ W by 13’6” H for all vegetation
3. Clear flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around any structure, occupied or not. Ornamental vegetation
should be kept clear of dead material. Some conditions, such as slopes, may require up to a 100-foot clearance.
4. Parcels one acre or less shall be completely abated. Parcels over one acre up to five acres require 30-foot clearance
around structures and perimeter property lines. Additional 30-foot cross fuel breaks may also be required.
5. Parcels larger than five acres require 30-foot clearance around structures and perimeter property lines in addition to
30-foot cross fuel breaks as needed to separate the remaining vegetation into sections no larger than five acres.
6. Keep property clear of accumulation of combustible debris, such as trash, wood, and dead vegetation. Stacked
firewood and neatly piled yard waste is not considered to be combustible debris.
7. Keep vegetation cleared from under the eaves of houses.
8. Trim tree branches to at least 10 feet away from chimney.
9. Clear leaves, pine needles and debris from roof and gutters.
The following is a partial list of fire resistant plants that you may choose to use around your home to reduce the risk of fire. Contact your local
nursery for selections appropriate to your area. All grasses, including those purportedly fire resistant, must be maintained below 6” in height.
Trees:
African Sumac
California Pepper
Shrubs:
Bearberry
Carmel Creeper
Carolina Cherry
Catalina Cherry
Escallonia
Hopseed Bush
Lemonade Berry
Groundcover:
Aaron’s Beard
Australian Daisy
Candytuft
Sterile Capeweed
Freeway Daisy
Rock rose (except Gum
Variety)
The Santa Clara County Weed
Abatement Program
The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and
Environmental Management and your city are working together to
protect your community from fire. We need your help. Please read
and follow the directions provided in this brochure regarding fire
prevention on your property. The purpose of the Weed Abatement
Program is to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative growth
and the accumulation of combustible materials.
The Weed Abatement program is entirely funded from fees
charged to residents. Fees will be assessed for any property in the
program. This is to cover the cost of the compliance inspection for
the property. Properties that fail the compliance inspection will be
charged a failed inspection fee, even if the resident completes the
weed abatement. If the property requires abatement by the
County contractor, the property owner will be responsible for the
actual cost of abatement plus an administrative fee. Properties
that meet and maintain the minimum fire safety standards will not
be charged other than the annual fee.
Program staff annually inspect parcels at the beginning of the fire
season, which is typically in March or April depending on your
jurisdiction. If the parcel is not in compliance at the time of
inspection, the property owner will be charged a failed inspection
fee, and the owner will be sent a courtesy notice as a reminder to
abate the weeds. If the weeds are not abated by the property
owner, the work will be completed by the County contractor. The
property owner will pay the contractor’s fees plus a County
administrative fee. All fees will be included in your property tax
bill.
Our Goal Is Voluntary Compliance
Property Owner’s Responsiblilities
Do not allow a fire hazard to exist on your property. The Minimum
Fire Safety Standards (MFSS) in this brochure give you guidelines
to follow in order to maintain your property and protect against a
fire hazard. Please contact our office if you need guidance or
have any questions regarding the requirements!
Make arrangements to have your property maintained throughout
the year. Contractors can be found in the yellow pages. You may
choose to have the County contractor maintain your property. A
current price list is included in your packet.
Please complete and return the Reply Form provided in your
mailing packet by the date on the form. Indicate your preference
regarding performance of weed abatement services.
Program Staff Responsibilities
Weed Abatement Inspectors will perform periodic
inspections on all parcels included in the Santa Clara
County Weed Abatement Program. Properties that fail the
compliance inspection will be charged a failed inspection
fee, even if the resident completes the weed abatement.
Inspectors will order the County contractor to perform all
necessary abatement work on any parcel where the MFSS are
not met. An attempt will be made to give the owner a courtesy
notice prior to releasing the work order.
The County contractor uses several methods of abatement
including discing and handwork. The property owner is free to
select whatever method they choose, provided the MFSS of all
federal, state and local laws are met.
The Weed Abatement Program will place inspection costs and
the charges for County contractor services plus a County
administrative fee on the property owner’s tax bill during the
next fiscal year.
Burrowing Owls
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why have I received an Abatement Notice?
A. Typically, a property is placed on the program if a Weed
Abatement Inspector identified a potential fire hazard on the property.
Fire Departments and other agencies also submit complaints to the
Weed Abatement Program.
Q. What is required of me now that I am in the Program?
A. All property owners are required to maintain their property free of
fire hazards throughout the year.
Q. The grasses planted on my property are fire resistant. Are
they exempt from the Weed Abatement program?
A. No. Even grasses that possess some fire resistant qualities are not
fire proof, and they can add fuel to any site that is subject to a fire.
Additionally, fire resistant grasses are rarely found in a pure,
homogenous stand but rather are usually found to occur mixed with
other common introduced annual grasses that are highly flammable
and hazardous in a fire event. Finally, many grasses occur in Santa
Clara County and species identification is difficult in the field,
especially after the spring when the reproductive portions required for
identification have dried and dispersed. Weed Abatement Inspectors
can only focus on the presence of grasses and weeds on your
property and the Minimum Fire Safety Standards, and not on grass
species identification. Therefore, all grasses are required to be below
6 inches in height.
Q. What is the SC County Weed Abatement Program?
A. This is a monitoring program and our primary objective is
voluntary compliance. See the first two paragraphs of this brochure
for further specifics.
These small owls nest in abandoned ground squirrel
burrows. Discing collapses the burrows and kills the young.
These owls are listed as a state Species of Special Concern
and are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If
you suspect burrowing owls on your property you must use
another form of weed abatement such as mowing or weed-
eating. If you request the County perform abatement
services, please notify program staff or your City if burrowing
owls are known to exist on your property.
More FAQ:
Q. How long will I be on the Program?
A. Your property will remain on the Program for three years. If
no hazards are found during that time, your property may be
removed from the program.
Q. How much will this cost me?
A. There will be an annual fee to cover the cost of the
compliance inspection. If the parcel does not meet the MFSS
when it is first inspected in the spring, or if work is required by
the County contractor, you will be charged additional fees. Our
goal is to ensure that the MFSS are met at the lowest possible
cost to the property owner.
Q. How will I be billed?
A. Any charges for the inspection and any abatement work
performed will appear as a special assessment on your next
property tax bill.
Q. Why have you performed work on my property while
the vegetation is still green?
A. Grass, weeds or piles of combustible debris have been
declared a public nuisance by your jurisdiction. Abating fire
hazards in the spring minimizes the volume of combustible
material before the hazards increase and dries out completely
during the peak fire season.
Q. Will you notify me prior to beginning abatement work?
A. Property owners are responsible for preventing fire hazards
on their property. If the MFSS have been met, but further work
is necessary, you will receive notice prior to the County
contractor performing the work. If the MFSS have not been
met, an attempt will be made to give the owner a courtesy
notice prior to initial abatement.
Q. Where can I find someone to provide abatement
services?
A. Weed Abatement contractors can be found in the Yellow
Pages under “Weed Control Services” or “Discing Services”.
You may have the County contractor perform the necessary
work; see your mailing packet for a current price list as
administrative costs are charged.
Q. How can I get additional information or assistance
regarding the specific requirements for my property?
A. Weed Abatement Inspectors are available to assist you and
answer your questions. Please call our Customer Service line
at (408) 282-3145 to schedule a consultation with program
staff or to obtain additional information.
Q. I have Grazing Animals do I need to perform
abatement?
A. Grazing animals do not absolve you of your responsibilities
to provide a fire safe condition on your property. You will need
to check with our office to determine if grazing is adequate or if
additional work is required.