12ME, ETING DATE: 08/05/13
ITEM NO:
las -GA�05 PORT
COUNCIL AGENDA RE
DATE: JULY 15, 2013
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS)
A. CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE REPORT OF THE
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER'S OT,FICE ON THE
ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS) FOR THE
2012 -2013 SEASON.
B. APPROVE SAID ASSESSMENT REPORT.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Conduct public hearing to consider the report of the County Agricultural Commissioner's
Office on the abatement of hazardous vegetation (weeds) for the 2012 -2013 season.
2. Approve said assessment report (Attacluilent 1).
BACKGROUND:
Hazardous Vegetation (weeds) poses a serious fire danger during the summer months and is the
responsibility of individual property owners. To ensure this hazardous vegetation (weeds) is
eliminated, the Town Council established a Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) 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 amlually in late fall with the Town Council declaring the hazardous
vegetation 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.
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 was observed to remove
PREPARED BY: BOB KASS ' "
Interim Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by -Assistant Town Manage; Town Attorney Finance
N: \PPW \MANAGEMENT \COUNCIL \COUNCIL REPORTS\2013 Rep�rts \080513\ Weeds \Weeds.PubHearing.080513.doex
PAGE 2
JULY 15, 2013
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS)
DISCUSSION (contd.).:
the weeds in accordance with fire safety standards. Properties not cleared by the owners before a
specified date were subsequently cleared by a contractor hired by the County Agricultural
Commissioner's Office. Questions related to the work performed and the cost of said work
should be directed to:
Moe Kumre, Coordinator
Weed Abatement Program
County of Santa Clara
Office of the Agricultural Commissioner
Agriculture and Environmental Management
1553 Berger Drive - building 91
San Jose, CA. 95112
(408) 282 -3123
Upon completion of the work, the Office of the County Agricultural Commissioner prepares a
report documenting the properties that were cleared and the costs for administering and
performing the work. The report is then filed with the Town for review and approval at a public
hearing. Once approved, the report is filed with the County Tax Collector for placement of the
charges on the ensuing property tax roll.
CONCLUSION:
The properties identified in the 2012 -2013 report have benefited from the Hazardous Vegetation
(Weed) Abatement Program by virtue of the County Agricultural Commissioner's Office
removing the hazardous vegetation on these properties. Therefore, the property owners should
be charged for the cost of removing hazardous vegetation under the program. Staff recommends
that the Town Council accept and approve the County Agricultural Commissioner's report.
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 fiirther 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.
PAGE 3
JULY 15, 2013
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS VEGETATION (WEEDS)
Attaclunents:
1. 2013 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report from County Agricultural
Commissioner's Office.
Distribution:
Amy Brown, Director of Agriculture and Environmental Management for Santa Clara County,
1553 Berger Drive, Building #l, San Jose, CA 95112
Moe Kumre, Coordinator, Weed Abatement Program, Office of the Agricultural Commissioner,
1553 Berger Drive, Building #l, San Jose, CA 95112
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