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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.A 08/01/2005%-IJ x Vr re i ALUMA, k.ALu+uxrvlA AGENDA BILL Agenda Title: Hold Public Hearing and Confirm Cost of Abatement of Weeds 3.A Moet ugust 1, 2005 August 1, 2005 Meeting Time: ® 3:00 PM ❑ 7:00 P1Vl Category (check one): ❑ Consent Calendar ® Public Hearing ❑ New Business ❑ Unfinished Business ❑ Presentation Department: tet Contact Person: Phone Number: Fire Michael A. Ginn778-4389 Fire Marshal Cost of Proposal: $18,500.00 budgeted. Most all of the Account Number: 5020-54160 funds expended for this program are recovered from property owners billed for the abatement work on their parcels. Name of Fund: Amount Budgeted: $18,500.00 Attachments to Agenda Packet Item: 1. Resolution to Have Delinquent Bills Added to Tax Records 2. Weed Abatement Program Report for 2005 a. Summary Memo to City Manager b. Billing Information Summary c. Sources and Uses Surnmary d. Contractor's Invoice Summary Summary Statement: Final cost accounting for the Weed Abatement Program is in process until as late as July 29" due to receipt of final payments from invoicing property owners for work performed on their parcels. Final totals will change as the deadline for payment approaches and will be available on file. The weed abatement program has been in effect in Petaluma for over twenty years. Its purpose is to reduce the fire potential to structures and property threatened by brush fires. Many potential fire threats are stopped or slowed by the reduction of combustible vegetation. Property owners are encouraged to have the weeds removed themselves or by a contractor of their choice. When this fails to occur in a timely manner, the City's weed contractor conducts the abatement under the direction of the Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB). The FPB then manages the work of the contract and the invoicing of property owners (an additional $100.00 administrative fee is added to each invoice). Approximately 550 property owners were notified by mail. Owners were given until June 3`a to abate their weeds. Failure to remit the fee by July 29" requires the unpaid bills to be attached to the next year's property tax tolls (via the County Tax Assessor). In order to attach unpaid invoices to property taxes, state law requires the Council hold a Public Hearing to hear objections by private owners to the cost of weed abatement on their property. Recommended Citv Council Action/Suggestion Motion: Hold hearing to confirm cost. Adopt Resolution f gun aid bills to County - se—or. �or. ea5ewed b_ mi Dates ?�/i}$ Revietd by i e. ev= I A— /eMsAWeeds itv Manager: Date: Todav's Date: Revision # and Da v File Code:� July 11, 2005 SATim Prevention\\ 65\Agendn Reports\Conru Cost of Weeds.doc CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 1, 2005 AGENDA REPORT FOR Hold Public Hearine and Confirm Cost of Abatement of Weeds 1. ExECUTIVE SUMMARY: Cost accounting is in process until July 29", final numbers will change as the process is completed an will be available on file The Fire Marshal's office billed property owners for abatement work done on their parcels. Property owners are required to pay by July 29"' or the unpaid bills are forwarded, by Council resolution, to the County Assessor — Tax Collector. State law requires the Council hold a Public Hearing to hear objections by private property owners to the cost of weed abatement on their property. An attempt at final collection of outstanding bills will be done before they are turned over to County Assessor -Tax Collector on or about August 10, 2005. 2. BACKGROUND: The 2005 Weed Abatement process included notification of all potential parcels with weeds growing potentially unabated. The weed abatement program has been in effect for over twenty years. Its purpose is to reduce the fire potential to structures and property threatened by brush fires. Property owners are encouraged to have the weeds removed themselves or by a contractor of their choice. Approximately 550 property owners were notified by mail; of these, 20 parcels required abatement. Owners were given until June 3' to abate their weeds. 3. ALTERNATIVES: 1) Continue Abatement Program. 2) Take no action and forgo ability to put unpaid invoices on property tax rolls. 4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: $18,500.00 budgeted. Most all of the funds expended for this program are recovered from property owners billed for the abatement work on their parcels. Other funds are charged from salary costs for staff to manage the program. 5. CONCLUSION: This is a routine item, repeated annually. 6. OUTCOMES OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS TIiAT WILL IDENTIFY SUCCESS OR COMPLETION: 7. RECOMMENDATION: Hold hearing to confirm cost and adopt Resolution forwarding unpaid bills to County Assessor. 3 wrvruvvutvu t_UJ1 Ur A15A1tMtNT OF WEEDS ORDERED ABATED BY RESOLUTION 2005- N.C.S. WHEREAS, on the 1" day of August, Michael Ginn, Fire Marshal for the City of Petaluma, California, rendered to the Council of the City of Petaluma his itemized report showing the cost of removing weeds, rubbish, etc., on each separate lot or any frontage thereof, all as shown and set forth in an itemized list, which said work was done pursuant to the Municipal Weed Abatement Law and proceedings of this Council pursuant thereto including Resolution 2005-037 N.C.S_, adopted March 21, 2005; and, WHEREAS, the Council finds and determines that said Fire Marshal's report of cost of abatement was posted by him on the I" day of August 2005, on the Chamber door of the City Council in the City Hall, Petaluma, California, which said notice and report provided that a hearing thereon would be held before this Council on the ? day of August, at the hour of 3:00 P.M., or as soon thereafter as can be heard; and, WHEREAS, the Council finds that the said Fire Marshal kept an account of abating said nuisances of land where the work was done by the contractor, Giusti Ranch, and that the Fire Marshal rendered an itemized report in writing to the Council showing the cost of removing said weeds, rubbish, refuse and dirt on each separate lot or in front thereof, or both, and that before said report was submitted to the Council, a copy of the same was posted for at least three (3) days prior thereto on the Chamber door of the City Council, together with a notice of when said report should be submitted to the City Council for confirmation; and, WHEREAS, at the time and place referred to in said notice the Council heard said Fire Marshal's report, together with any objections which were raised by any of the property owners liable to be assessed for the work of abating said nuisances, and the Council has made such modifications in said report as were deemed necessary; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that said Fire Marshal's report of cost of abatement report hereinafter referred to, be and each and every part thereof, is hereby confirmed; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the copy of said report be turned over to the Assessor -Tax Collector of this City and that such further proceedings be had under said Municipal Weed Abatement Law as shall be necessary to constitute the cost of abating such nuisances, a special assessment against the respective parties referred to and described in said report. W hhIJ AtSA 1 LMEN 1 PROGRAM REPORT FOR WEED ABATEMENT YEAR 2005 7/11/05 No report attached at this time, as the final disposition and calculations for invoicing and payment will not be finalized until July 29, 2005. The final report will be presented on or before the Council meeting on August 1, 2005.