20. Weed abatement 2010 deadlineOFFICE OF THE CIl'Y CLERK
CUPERTINO
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVEf~IUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95414-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) '777-3223 • FAX: (408) 777-3366
SUN[MARY
Agenda Item No. ~d
SUBJECT
MEETING DATE: Sept. 1, 2009
Consider possible changes to the County's abatement deadline for the 2010 weed abatement
program.
BACKGROUND
On December lb, 2008, Council changed the ir.~spection deadline from March 1 to April 1, to give
residents more time to abate the weeds on their :property. On July 21, 2009 Council directed staff to
agendize this item to discuss possible changes to the 2010 deadlines.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Set the parcel abatement deadline for the 2010 v~~eed abatement program.
Submitted by:
c~~Y7'Lc,
Kimberly Smi
City Clerk
Approved for submission to the City Council:
David W. Knapp
City Manager
Attachment A: Report from -the Dept. of Agricultur-e and Environmental Management
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County of Santa. Clara
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management
Administration Division
San Jose Office
1 S53 Berger brive
Building 1
San Jose, CA 95112
(408)918-4600
Fax (408) 286-2460
South County Office
605 Tennant Avenue
Suite G
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
(408)465-2900
Fax (408) 779-22SS
Date: August 1 S, 2009
To: Members, Cupertino City Council
City Manager
Attachment A
http://www.sccagriculture.org
From; Greg Van Wassenhove, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management
Dirk Matters, Central Fire District
SUBJECT
Consider the County parcel abatement deadline for the 2010 Weed Abatement Program.
BACKGROUND .
At its meeting on July 2l, 2009, the Council directed staff to agendize and study the possibility of. changing
the Weed Abatement compliance deadline from April i'~ of each year, to a later date, and present possible
options to allow parcel owners additional time to comply with the minimum fire safe standards.
In December each year, parcel owners in the County Weed Abatement Program are mailed information as
required by State law that prescribes a requirement to abate weeds, a date when abatement is required, and a
date of a public hearing in January to protest the requirement to abate weeds. The information also includes
notification that a fee will be assessed, to an owner for re-inspection of any parcel not meeting the weed
abatement deadline, and that the owner will be responsible for any costs for abatement should the County
have to abate the weeds. Parcel owners are requested to return a reply form designating who will be
responsible for abating the weeds.
The County has an agreement with many cities to perform abatement services. Each City sets its own deadline
for the owner to abate weeds. The deadlines are typically set in consultation with the fire authority for the
jurisdiction, taking into consideration the microclimates that influence when weeds become -afire hazard, but
also the parcel inspections and County abatements that must be completed before the weeds become a fire
hazard. Performing abatement work on weeds that are already dry presents an undue risk of starting a
vegetation fire. The County inspects parcels immediately after the deadline, but gives the pazcel owner a 15-
day courtesy notice to compete the' abatement before it assigns the work to a contractor. This timeirame can
delay tine completion of abatement at least a month after the deadline depending on the level of non-
compliance in the jurisdiction. .
Historically, Cupertino has-set the owner deadline for March~l~`, but changed the deadline for the current 2009
season to April 1 °~. The surrounding cities of Los Gatas, Monte Sereno and Saratoga currently have their
abatement deadline for April 15a'. The April 1 S`" deadline allows for completion of any abatement work by
the middle of May, which is the latest date the Counry~caa work with; and still provide a reasonable level of
fire protection on the Cupertino weed abatement parcels in the County Program.
COTTN'i'Y STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Change the weed abatement deadline for Cupertino to April 15c', and direct County staff to mail notices to
City parcel owners on the current weed abatement program.
Banrd of Snparviaon_ Dona(d F. Gage, George Shiraicawa, Dave Cortese, Ken Yeager., Liz Kniss
l~Cttllg COIIaIy EYECatiYC: Gary A. Graves
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