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: 05/01/2018
ITEM NO: 05
DATE: APRIL 19, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH) A
PUBLIC NUISANCE, PROVIDING FOR ABATEMENT, AND SETTING JUNE 19,
2018 AS A PUBLIC HEARING ON ANY PROPOSED HAZARDOUS VEGETATION
(BRUSH) ABATEMENT.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a public nuisance,
providing for abatement, and setting June 19, 2018 as a public hearing on any proposed
hazardous vegetation (brush) abatement.
BACKGROUND:
Hazardous vegetation (brush) poses a fire threat during the summer months and property
owners are required to address and control this issue. To eliminate hazardous vegetation and
reduce fire danger, the Town annually adopts a Hazardous Vegetation Abateme nt Program.
The Town conducts this program with Santa Clara County (County) as the inspection and
enforcement agent.
Under the program, the County notifies property owners within the Wildland Urban Interface
area of the required fire hazard abatement measures, giving the property owner an opportunity
to abate the hazardous vegetation (see Attachment 2). If the property owner does not address
the hazardous vegetation within the prescribed amount of time, the County’s contractor
addresses the necessary work and the County assesses the cost on the owner's property tax
bill.
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH) A
PUBLIC NUISANCE AND PROVIDING FOR ABATEMENT AND SETTING JUNE 20,
2017 AS A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR PROTESTS ON THIS ANNUAL PROGRAM
APRIL 19, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\05-01-18\05 Brush Abatement\Staff Report - Adopt a resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a public
nuisance, providing for abatement, and setting June 19, 2018 as a public hearing on any proposed hazardV3.docx 4/26/2018 1:36
PM MM
DISCUSSION:
The resolution (see Attachment 1) must be adopted by Council to initiate the annual Hazardous
Vegetation Abatement Program. The County manages all follow up and remedies. Below is the
scheduled outline for the program:
March 2018 County Fire notifies property owners within the Wildland Urban Interface
area of required fire hazard abatement measures (Attachment 2).
April-June First inspections are conducted by County Fire with a June 1st deadline for
compliance.
May 1, 2018 Town Council passes resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a
nuisance and sets a public hearing June 19, 2018.
June 2018 Follow-up inspections are conducted by the County and those properties
that did not have the Enforced Safety Regulations implemented at the
time of the first inspection. SCCFD then notifies those not in compliance
informing them of the public hearing on June 19 th. The Town publishes
(twice) notice of June 19, 2018 public hearing for Town Council.
June 19, 2018 Town Council holds public hearing and authorizes County staff to correct
issues for non-compliant properties.
July 2018 County returns account and assessment list of charges for work done by
contractor.
July 2018 If public hearing to assess charges is needed, the Town publishes (twice)
notice of August 7, 2018 public hearing for Town Council.
August 7, 2018 If needed, Town Council holds public hearing on any proposed hazardous
vegetation (brush) abatement charges and Council considers a resolution
confirming or modifying assessments.
August 7, 2018 Clerk Administrator submits a list of charges as a special assessment to
the County Tax Collector.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (BRUSH) A
PUBLIC NUISANCE AND PROVIDING FOR ABATEMENT AND SETTING JUNE 20,
2017 AS A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR PROTESTS ON THIS ANNUAL PROGRAM
APRIL 19, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\05-01-18\05 Brush Abatement\Staff Report - Adopt a resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a public
nuisance, providing for abatement, and setting June 19, 2018 as a public hearing on any proposed hazardV3.docx 4/26/2018 1:36
PM MM
CONCLUSION:
Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a public nuisance,
providing for abatement, and setting June 19, 2018 as a public hearing on any proposed
hazardous vegetation (brush) abatement.
COORDINATION:
This program is coordinated with the Santa Clara County Fire Department and the County of
Santa Clara Weed Abatement Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are provided in the FY 2017-18 Budget (Program 5101) to cover the cost of publishing the
legal notice.
Attachments:
1. Resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (brush) a public nuisance, providing for
abatement and setting June 19, 2018 as a public hearing to hear protests on this annual
program.
2. Letter sent from County to property owners within the Wildland Urban Interface area.
Distribution:
John Justice, Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention, Central Fire District, 14700 Winchester Boulevard, Los
Gatos, CA 95030
Moe Kumre, Manager, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, County of Santa Clara, 1553
Berger Drive, San Jose, CA 95112