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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: December 21, 2011 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Dave Anderson
City Clerk
SUBJECT: 2012 Hazardous Vegetation Program Commencement Resolution
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve resolution declaring hazardous vegetation (weeds) as a public nuisance and setting a
public hearing on January 18, 2012 to consider objections to the Abatement List.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture Weed Abatement Program is
to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative growth and the accumulation of combustible
materials. The County Department of Agriculture provides weed abatement services to a number
of cities in the County, including Saratoga.
The attached resolution represents the first step in Saratoga’s Hazardous Vegetation Abatement
Program. Parcels throughout the City that represent a potential hazard due to weeds or
combustible debris have been added to an Abatement Program list maintained by the County.
The attached resolution declares the vegetation or debris on these properties in Saratoga as being
a potential hazard and public nuisance.
If the attached resolution is approved, property owners on the Abatement List will receive a
notice from the County indicating that their property has been identified as a potential fire hazard
and public nuisances on their property must be abated by removal of any hazardous vegetation or
combustible debris. Additionally, the attached resolution indicates that the City of Saratoga will
hold a public hearing at the January 18, 2012 City Council Meeting where objections to the
proposed nuisance abatement can be heard and given due consideration.
During the public hearing on January 18, 2012, the Council will be asked to approve the Weed
Abatement Program. If approved, the County will be authorized to perform an inspection of
properties on the Abatement List to determine if the property has met Weed Abatement Program
requirements. Property owners will have until April 15, 2012 to abate their property.
Property owners that do not comply with minimum fire safety standards by April 15, 2012 will
be charged a $250 inspection fee and the property will be scheduled for abatement by the County
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contractor. If abatement work is completed by a County contractor, the property owner will be
assessed the contractor’s fees to perform the work plus a County administrative fee of $169 per
parcel.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There are no fiscal impacts to the City of Saratoga as a result of the Weed Abatement Program.
The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture expenses are recovered through the Weed
Abatement Program administrative fees charged to property owners.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
The Weed Abatement Program in the City of Saratoga would not proceed.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
Prior to abatement, property owners on the Abatement List will receive three notices informing
them that the hazardous vegetation on their property must be abated by the owner 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. Additionally, the first two notices inform the
property owner that objections to properties on the Abatement List can be made at the public
hearing scheduled for January 18, 2012. The public hearing will also be noticed in the Saratoga
News.
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 a Public Nuisance and
Setting Public Hearing Date