HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5.A 7/15/2013 Agerviai Itevvv#5 .A
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DATE: July 15, 2013.
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM`. Larry B. Anderson, Fire Chief
Cary D. Fergus, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: Resolution,Ordering Abatement of Nuisances Consisting of Weeds Growing
Upon Public and Private,Propertyin the City of'Petaluma and Ordering the Fire
Department to.Abate"Said Weeds by Contract if Property Owners Fail To Do So
RECOMMENDATION:
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• It is recommendedahatthe City Council adopt the attached-resolution ordering abatement of
nuisances consisting of weeds;growing upon public and private property in the City of Petaluma
and ordering the Fire Departhient:to abate said weeds by contract if property owners fail to do so.
BACKGROUND: l
On March 18,'2013, the City:Council.approved Resolution:No..2013-026 N.C.S. which declared
that weeds growing upon parcels:of public and'iprivate property are;a public nuisance,requiring
abatement and setthe dates of-May 20, 2013 arid, if necessary, July 1`5,.2013 as Public Hearing
dates. On May 20, 2013, a Public,Hearing was'held toihear any objections by owners on the
original 645 parcel weed abatement list (504 private parcel'owners and 141 City-owned sites).
,There were no objections.
The Fire Marshal's office began:inspections of:properties on,the original list on June 3, 2013. As
the weed season has progressed, additional parcels/owners not listed on the original abatement
notification'.list have been identified (typically ihrough)complaints) as those which,may require
p sites emplace and since these;parcels have
abatement. An inspection of sites has taken
been deemed to contain a-weed-related firehazard,;the;property owner(s) must be given the right
to due process and given an opportunityto;be heard byrCouncil. These newly-identified
parcels/owners have been made aware by letter`,that they.have;a right to a Public Hearing and
will have until July 16, 2013 to`clear their properties of nuisance weeds, otherwise ab'atementby
the-Cit'y will take place and.they will be assessed the direct costs for the abatement,plus an
administrative fee of$1.81 per parcel.
Ageiida Reif
City Attorn'e \- Finance Dir ctor 'ty Mait —
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DISCUSSION:
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The Government Code requires City council to,provide;a,geniie for property owners to voice
their objections regarding the City's weed abatement program'and'.the means by which properties
are-abated. This-Public Hearing, and subsequent resolution,meets the intent of the law-which
allows-the Fire Department-and its-contractor-to enter private property and force abatement of •
weed-related.firehazards, &property owners fail to abate. Prop erty-owners'are highly
encouraged to handle their own weed abatement and abatement by the City only takes place after
non-compliance with the stated abatement deadline which, in this case;is July 16,2013.
All work performed(such as disking;;mowing, blading or-hand work) will be charged at-one
hour minimums. Additional`Work.over-one hour will be prorated on quarter-hour increments at
the sane hourly base rate.. The Contractor will:.be perrnitted,to charge a pulling,(or towing) fee
for each parcel where mowing, blading,disking or a combination thei-eot is performed. This fee
is not applicable where only hand work was provided. Differences in sizeand type of terrain and
method•of abatement used are all variables for costs incurred.; The hourly costs for work
performed areas follows:
Disking: $45.00/hour
Blade Work: $40.00/hour
Tractor.Mowiiig: $45100/hour
Hand Work: •$30,00/hour
Travel Time/Pulling,Fee: $40.00/hour
in addition, the Contractor'agrees to honor any designated ".Sparc the-Air Days" that occur
during the weed abatement Season. by the Bay-Area An Quality Management
District;("BAAQMD").. They agree not to utilize-any gas or•diesel powered equipment on those
designated days and all-scheduled weedabatement cutting will take:place.around those
designated days, if any.
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Upon Council confirmation, property owners that fail to pay.the:abatement fees by mid-August
of each calendar year will haye.spceial assessments,.and liens`placed against their property jn the
amount ofthe City's cost of abatemen(:
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The•weed abatement:program.is a 100% cost recovery program. Direct costs-of abatement are
'charged based ontactual costs to.clear-'the:parcels. A per-parcel administrative fee<is added to
each public and privatellparcel;,to coverltheicost of the Weed,abatement inspector, program
management and secretarial support: Theadministrative feefor,the:2013 weed abatement season
is'$1-81,per parcel, and''is based on the City's actual and reasonable:.costs of administering the
program. The>feeais approved by City-CouncihResolutionand is,identitied in the City's adopted
schedulebf.fees'for•services. All.direct and adriiinistrative,eosts are-recovered through payment
by the individual property owner(s) and/or%colleetion ofspecial assessments against the specific
parcels by the County Assessor, in connection with property tax,payments.
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ATTACHM GNTS
Resolution;
2. Resoliuion 2013-026N.C.S. (°`Declari'nb Weeds a Public Nuisance Requiring
Abatettient");
3-. Copy of Notice of Public Ilea ing.,Letter with Response Card and.List of Newly Located Property
Owners (thisserves as the;special notice requireiiient for-this Public Hearing);
4. Memo to.Petaluma City Council dated 07/3/13 Listing Noticed Properties That.Are Within 500'
ofCouncilniemliers' Peisanal.Properties.
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RESOLUTION:ORDERING ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES
CONSISTING OF WEEDS`GROWING UPON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF PETALUMA.AND:ORDERING
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ABATEt-SAID WEEDS.BY CONTRACT
IF PROPERTY OWNERS'FAIL. TO DO-S0
WHEREAS, on the18th day of Marelr2013,the Council of-the City of Petaluma adopted
Resolution No 2013=026 N.C,S., declaring weeds growing upon public and private property
referred to and described in said Resolution; constituted and were.a public nuisance.and fixed
the IS' day of July 2013,:atthe hourof17:00,p.m., oras Soon thereafter as can be heard, in
the.Council Chanibers.Of the.rCity'Hall, 11 English Street;;Petalutna, California, as the time
and place of hearing protests and obj'ectionsito said!abatement-proceedings; and,
WI-IEREAS, on May 202013, a hearing was held fir parcels.originally identified as requiring
abatement; and,
WHEREAS, written notice of the„July 15, 2013 hearing, substantially in the form provided by
Government Code Section 305,66, was mailed to owners of-potentially'inipiteted property not
included for the May 20, 2013'hear,ing and identified onAttachment.A, attached hereto, and
incorporated herein by reference,aas specified imResolution No2011:026-N.C:S.: and,
WHEREAS, the City COUncil haS Iield;its i ent-MOhid considered all objections or protests to the
proposed abatement of nuisance.weedsand has considered: followed or overruled.any or all
objections, as hereinafter set:forth,.and the City''Coundil`hass now acquired jurisdiction to proceed and
perform the work of abater enPol sard�weed nuisances:
NOW, THEREFORE,-BE'IT'RESOLYED-that:
1.
The City-Council does hereby order,the'Fire:Department oftheCity, through a
contractor employed byjthistity, to abate said nuisances by removing said weed nuisances
by meansolmowing, disking handwork, orblading using whichever means it deems to be
the most appropriate after considering the location and the terrain of said parcels of public
and piiVate-property'ref&red to and described in said Resolution No.:2013-026 N.C.S. Said
mowing,,di'sking;.handwork;:and.blading shall be accomplished as-many times as the Fire
Department may,deem`neeessary to provide the best possible-control of weeds; and
2. To recover,:adtpinistrative costs far managing,the abatement program, the City
Council autherries.the Fire Marshalto assess art adniinisttatiVe fee.($181.00) to every parcel
or'lovof private or public,property that requires,abatement by the City;^ands
3. The Fire Deparhnent'shal],keep an account/o fthe cost of this abatement of said
nuisances on public and private property where the work is thine; arid thereafter submit to
this°'Coundil for.icontirmation,.antitemized written reportshowing such cost as required by
Section 39574 of the Government Code, and thereafter'such proceedings shall be had for
special assessments;against"the'.respective parcels,df land to pay'for die cost of said work, in
the;hianner provided by Chapter 13, Part 2;,Division,3„of Title 4.of the Government Code.
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Resolution No 2013-026rN.C:S
of the City,tof Petal'uma,'Galiforrii'a
DECLARING,TIIAI'WEEDS.CROWING UPON PARCELS
OF PUIILIC,AND i'RIVATh. PROPERT{Y;REFERRED TO•AND
DESCRIBED IN TIIISRESOI UTION CONSTITUTE AND ARE
A,PUBLIC NUISANCE 2EQUIRINGABA FEMEN F,AND,SE'IIINC
_.z..,.•, _ .VR . .
PUBL[C�IIEA121NCSrAT WHICH OBJEC'1'IONS;MAY DE;HEAIill
WIIEREAS,brusEand:weediabatementreduces flieliloads it areas of Petaluma-known for
being siisceptible,to grass and brush tires attd islregarded`as a proactive"lire prevention measure.
designed to elf prevent ignition by the:reduction or removal offuel,y(2),slows;stops;or confines'
the spread of.it lire in are is with;exeessivegrass/brush(3):allows time;for fire.suppression
personnel to respond and eytinguishfft thie nuung linvItikdtilfredneCs the lire threat from
properties that+adjoinithe'i ity liruils;aird,
WHEREAS,the Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau hasa developed,an aggressive brush and
weed abatement program:wliich:has'.served to liroteci;the;public;healih,safeiy and welfare of the
citizenry of the.Cit of:Petalumabyreducing trr`e danger and the effects`of excessive',biush:And
weed fires for the pass twenty seven'yetirs,
WIIEREAS;Government Code;sections 39560jer teg provide a procedure for weed
abatement by'm(inicipal entities;pursuant to which the City of Petaluma may:adopt resolution.
declaring certaimweeds amuisanceand therehyallowthe:Fire•Department to proceed with
abatement.
NOW, 1'HFUEFOREi.BEaI;I RESOLVED that the CityJCouncil ofthe'Cityof Petaluma
hereby declares that,alloirhe weeds now growing upon,public_and private pareels:withinnhe
City.of Petalumai referred:to and described ut the,list.prepared;by the Fire Marshal,pages on'filc
iii the office:of the:Fire:Marshal,-'ire,weeds.which bear seeds of winged or downy:nature,or
nil_iiit suehla large growth as to become";i"fire menace"when dry,and/or are others se.noxious
rod`dangerous:,and.allisuch;weeds.growing upon such:public and:pribate,propertyare a:public
nuisance put cant to Government Code,Sectioir39561 which thc:City proposes to abate.
Resolution No:2013-026-N c.st Page I
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BE IT FURTHER'.RESOLVED that:he:City Counci[hereby seislheitime for-a:public
,hearing at 7:00 p.m,or as soon thereafter.is the matter cm,bethcard,ton May'20,.2013 and,if
required igain,on July 15,2013,at which tunep ill'objections will be,heard and given due
consideration..
BF,IT FUR THER IESOLVED that pursuant to Government Code Section 39567`II the
Fire,Nlarshal shaft causewritteninoticcof the proposed abatementto'be mailed'toyalbpersons
owning property,described,in,the.list•on;Iilesin ifuvrirc Marshal rs Office: S lidmoticeshall be
substantially in the (orm'liroyided by Government Code Sectiun;39566..
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Und r l t power:and aulhorip'eobler ed upiuethis C< tl byalho i.T.harter of s,+id,C0%
R EFE RE■C6: I'lcr h7 certj3..the:fo eg I R iluno l a I +lu' 1 and uuopl d b�the > pp w d.v In
C61ine bt the Ciry%oof I Uelumu al'a'itehl r mb2u,ig'on Ih d 81 d:iy id M:+yeti t:
201}_p+;IJie following:vote: --
,C Auon7e-
AVESi' .Vi'c Mleiii':Nhernon,Rarrnu.Majdr Ua 11tfris:Kearney,,Miller
NOES,^ None;
ARSEN"r: ilcaty
4 RSI \IN: Nqqone
1//'!pp� yn /n/�(�yA" � ``//
TrESrr v Jo,1 ' it
GIy Cl rh ® \lm of
Resulutioir Nu:2017-026 N.C.S. Page 2
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FALU CITY OF PETALUMA
POST OFFICE BO7(61
Jess PETALUMA,CA 94953-.0061
:thvid Glass ;Re: Parcel'.#uAPNii
Ala;;;
eNum»«Street» •
chiisAlbeasnn `NOTICE OF HEARING
Teresa Barrett.
aN 4e ekiys • On the• I8"day'of March,2013 the,City;Council of Petaluma,California passed Resolution
Gabe Beerney, .#2013=02 6.declaring weeds that constitute a fire hazard.in the City of Petaluma must be abated:
Kathy Miller
,, Fora copy of theresolution„contact the office of the City Clerk ar(707)778-4360.
Al!property,owners having:any objection to the proposed removal of such weeds are hereby
notified to attend a Public Heating of the;Petaluma City;Council,�to be held on the J S"'day of
July,2013,in the Council Chambers at City Hall I L English Street Petaluma,.California,
• beginning al 7:00 p m,or,as soon thereafter as,the matter may be heard,when objections will be
!heard and given due consideration:4 youplan on removing the weeds yourself or by,a
contractor;of your choice,you_need not attend this hearing Only attend the meeting if you
object to the Fire Marshal clearinEyouc property if you tail todo rt vourselL
FINAL DATE FOR REMOVAL OF WEEDS
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•, If the,property^identified'on this notice is not cleared of weeds by July 16,'2013,1 it will'be
cleared by a City contractor;.and the,e6ifof removal assessed against the property,'including a.
$181,00 administrative fee: Failure to remit fees due will result special assessment placed
on a seared;Propeit tax roll.
•, Property owners are requiredio remove all weeds and brush For larger parcels,disking is
the preferred method A list of private contractors isavailablepupon'request..All.parcels must be
maintainedSree of bn>sh/weeds that pose afire hazard'throughout the'season:—:May throud _r
OctobeF—or'-untifthe irstmajor rains in Fall:
• When weed abatement at the above noticed address has been completed„please fill out the
enclosed Weed Abatement Sellf certification postcard:'The form must beyfilled out'*itEthe date
the property.was:abated'and'the parcel'•number found'.at the top of this abatement notice.
.
•• It is important to know that inspections are-conducted throughout the'dry season"and:your
ro must be maintained in order;to;remain.in com liance. Even if your property-as abated
p_ Pent.. .p ' Y �'
early in the season there is'potential for re-growth: If at any time your property is determined to
he a hazard it may be abated:withoutadditional notice.:For a copyiof,theWeed Abatement
Guideline,-please visit our website at httpl/www:cityofpetaluma.net/firedeptipreventionihtml or
F„,),,, rtmem • contact the,Fire Prevention'Bureau.:
198 'D'Sneeet
( / :CA•49i2 .• NOTE: If you no longer own this property;please contact the`Fire Prevention Bureau at
Phone R07)7784390 (707)''778-4389 or fiiremarshal@ei.petaluma.ca:us.
Far(707). 62-f541 _ __
in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act if you•require special assistance in participate in this meeting.phase
contact the City Clerk's,Offce at(707)778-4360(voice)'or(707)778-4480(TOD). translators American Sign Language
Fire Prevenrten Burrmr r. -
1lEnglishSaee interpreters and/or assistivei listening devices for individusl5 wnh!heann8'disabtlities.w¢II be.avnilab(e upon,regiuS.. A
Pero/wrw,CA949521 minimum of 48 hourstis'needed to{ensure the availability of trnnslation services. In consideration of those with multiple
chemical sensitivities or other environmental illness•his requested that you refrain from wearing scented products.
Phone(707)7733,4389"
Far'P07)776-3642, (dbrfent O{ynen)
• aa
«Ow eefs'Address»,
a Cit)9x Zip»,gZip'4»
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RESPONSE:CARD
IMPORTANTYOu MUST-accurately,uidude all i t PARCEL NUMBER of the inforrnahoe in theredboxorevewlllbe
unahla to process,your response:See the front,
of the Annual Notice for the carrect'Part
- _ Number - -- u
ADDRESS, - -- -
I _❑ Icertify the propertyhas-been
ratiated'per Petaluma Fire,Depart=
rnent s Standardd.and that the owner
.Additionab.Comments. will maintain property throughout the
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year.
Signature Giddying'Abatement,
. '❑ The property:is improved':and/or
i - completely .landscaped
` - Daytime pfronei
From POSTAGE
- - REQUIRED
4 City OF!PETALUMA,
_ Attn Fire Prevenbon,Bureau.
�A tw PO.Boi61
"* O. i• Pe_tatuma,:CA 949510061
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City of Petaluma, California
MEMORANDUM
Fire.Prevention Bureau, 41 English.Street,.Relalulna,.:CA.94952
(711,7) 7784389, Fier (707) 776-3642
DATE: July 3, 2013
TO: Petaluma City Council
FROM: Cary D. Fergus, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: Weed Abatement Program 2013
Public Hearing; 7tI5/13,
The Fire.Preyention.Bureauanailed weed.abatement notices to 32 parcel owvners`who own
property within the City limits, Listed below, alphabetically by Councilmember, is a listing of
these addresses (by:parcelaiumber'and'street address) that l aVe been,identitied as being within
500' ola City CouncilmembeCS property:_
r
CHRIS ALBERTSON
None
TERESA BARRETT
None
DA,VI D_C LASS
Parcel-No. Address
019-120-041 01860.E St.Ekt
MIKE HARRIS
None
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Memoao Council
July 3,2013
Page 2,
MIKES EALY (Primary.& ,SSecondary. Addresses)
Pareei N o. Address
006-163-040, 3681Petaluma.Blvd N
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GABEKEARNEY
None
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KATHY'MILLER
None
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