HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Staff Report.pdf
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: December 15, 2010 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Ann Sullivan, City Clerk DIRECTOR: Dave Anderson
SUBJECT: 2011 Hazardous Vegetation Program Commencement Resolution
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolution Declaring Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) as Public Nuisance and Setting
Public Hearing.
REPORT SUMMARY:
The attached resolution represents the first step in Saratoga’s Hazardous Vegetation Abatement
Program administered by the Office of the Agricultural Commissioner. The Commissioner has
determined that there are parcels that have excessive weed growth in Saratoga. The purpose of
the Weed Abatement Program is to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative growth and the
accumulation of combustible materials. It would be appropriate at this time for the City Council
to adopt the resolution setting a public hearing on January 5, 2011 for consideration of a
Declaration of Nuisance as to specific properties containing hazardous vegetation.
As in the past two years, the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Management Office will charge property owners who have not complied with the minimum fire
safety standards at the time of the initial inspection, even though the property owner eventually
performs the abatement work. The inspection fee is $298. The authority for these charges is
found in Government Code Section 39573 and California Health and Safety Code Section 14902.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
No fiscal impact to the City of Saratoga if the resolution is adopted. The County of Santa Clara
recovers its costs from the administrative portion of the fee charged to property owners.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
Prior to actual abatement The property owners of the parcels containing weeds needing
abatement are sent three notices informing them that the hazardous vegetation must be abated,
either by the owners or by the County. The notices inform the property owner that the County
abatement will commence if work is not performed by the property owner; and the first two
notices inform the property owner how to present any objections to being in the Abatement
Program at two public hearings. The public hearings are noticed in the Saratoga News as well.
After the public hearing and Declaration of Nuisance as to specific properties on January 5, 2011,
the Council will give notice and consider adopting another resolution, this time ordering the
actual abatement on properties whose owners did not object or whose objections the Council
overruled.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, this item was properly posted as a City Council agenda
item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s web site in advance of the
meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each
Monday in advance of the Council meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Resolution Declaring Hazardous Vegetation (Weeds) as Public Nuisance and
Setting Public Hearing