HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6.A 10/02/2017Agenda Item #6.A
L.
DATE: October 2, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Leonard Thompson, Fire Chief,
Jessica Power, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: Public Hearing and Action to Adopt Resolution Confirming the Cost of
Abatement of Weeds and Confirming Approval of the Forwarding of Unpaid Bills
to the County Assessor's Office for Collection as Assessments
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution Confirming the Cost of
Abatement of Weeds and Confirming Approval of the Forwarding of Unpaid Bills to the County
Assessor's Office for Collection as Assessments.
BACKGROUND
The City has an aggressive weed abatement program. The clearing of public and private
property, depending on weather, must be accomplished by mid -May or early June of any given
year and maintained until the first major rains of Fall. This greatly reduces the fuel /fire load
available and significantly reduces the threat and risk from fire.
Property owners are encouraged to remove overgrown weeds and /or combustible vegetation
growing upon their properties themselves or by a contractor of their choosing. When this does
not occur in a timely manner, the City's weed contractor, under the direction of the Fire
Marshal's Office, conducts the abatement. During the 2017 Weed Abatement Season, 638
properties (City and private) were identified as requiring abatement and respective owners were
notified by mail to abate weeds. The weed removal deadline was May 31, 2017. Property
inspections began June 1, 2017.
Please note that none of the parcels noticed for this hearing are within 500' of any Council
Members' property.
DISCUSSION
Public Hearings were held twice during the 2017 season: on May 15, 2017 (Resolution 2017 -064
N.C.S.) for the benefit of 632 parcels listed on the original weed master list and again on July 17,
2017 (Resolution 2017 -109 N.C.S.) for the benefit of six parcels identified after the May 15'
hearing. A total of 16 parcels were abated in 2017 by the City's weed contractor during the weed
season: one City -owned site and 15 private sites. Invoices for service were issued to the private
parcel owners. Pursuant to municipal weed abatement regulations, failure to remit payment will
result in any unpaid amounts being attached to that specific parcel's future property tax bill by
the County Assessor's Office. For the 2017 weed abatement season there were 5 parcels that
were abated that failed to remit payment for a total amount of $2,387.50. State law requires that
the City Council hold a Public Hearing to hear objections by private owners about the cost of
weed abatement performed on their property.
It is recommended that the City Council consider any objections or comments offered at the
public hearing and adopt the attached Resolution confirming the approval of the forwarding of
any unpaid weed abatement bills to the County Assessor's Office.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The weed abatement program is intended to recover 100% of the costs. For 2017, the total
program charges (amount collected) totaled $7,481.25 and the total program direct cost including
staff time was $8,742.10; therefore this year the program under - recovered its cost by $1,260.85.
This is primarily due to the fact that City Departments and some public properties are addressing
their own weed abatement and are not subject to Administrative fees which are a portion of the
total program charges. For the 2017 weed abatement season there were 5 parcels that were
abated that failed to remit payment for a total amount of $2,387.50. Unpaid invoices are
forwarded to the County Assessor's Office to be attached to that specific parcel's future property
tax bill.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Cost Report for 2017 Weed Abatement
3. Property Tax Levy Form Detailing Unpaid Invoices for Weed Abatement Services
Conducted in 2017.
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE COST OF ABATEMENT
OF WEEDS AND CONFIRMING APPROVAL OF THE FORWARDING OF UNPAID
BILLS TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR
COLLECTION AS ASSESSMENTS
WHEREAS, on the 2nd day of October, the Fire Marshal provided to the City Council of
Petaluma an itemized report detailing the cost of removing weeds, excessive organic yard
waste, foliage, overgrowth, dirt and /or debris from sixteen (16) separate parcels, all as shown
and set forth on the attached itemized report. Said work was completed pursuant to
Government Code, Title 4, Chapter 13, including § §39560 et seq., and proceedings of this
City Council, including Resolution 2017 -040 N.C.S. adopted March 20, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Marshal's Report of the cost of this season's weed abatement
program was posted on or before the 25th day of September, 2017 on the Chamber door of
the City Council in City Hall, Petaluma, California. Said displayed notice and Report states
that a Public Hearing would be held before this City Council on this 2nd day of October at the
hour of 7:00 P.M., or as soon thereafter as can be heard, about the outcome of the abatement
season. and
WHEREAS, the Fire Marshal kept an accounting of nuisance weed abatement completed
by the City's weed contractor, Keystone Tractor Service, and submitted the 2017 Weed
Abatement Cost Report ( "the Report") to the City Council showing the cost of removing
weeds, excessive organic yard waste, foliage, overgrowth, dirt and /or debris from the sixteen
(16) parcels abated this season; and
WHEREAS, before said Report was submitted to the City Council, a copy of same was
posted for at least three (3) days on the Chamber door of the City Council, together with
notice of the date on which the Report would be submitted to the City Council for
confirmation; and
WHEREAS, at the time and place referred to in said notice, the City Council heard the
Fire Marshal's Report, together with any objections raised by the property owners, and the
City Council made its recommendations and any modifications it deemed necessary to be
included in the final Report; and
WHEREAS, a copy of the Property Tax Levy Report has been given to the County
Auditor /Assessor of Sonoma County in advance of the City Council hearing this matter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma
that:
1. The Fire Marshal's 2017 Weed Abatement Cost Report ( "the Report "), and each
amount and part thereof, is hereby confirmed, and as to the delinquent parcels
listed therein, the amount shown for each such parcel constitutes a special
assessment against each such delinquent parcel; and,
2. The Property Tax Levy Report provided to the County Auditor /Assessor of
Sonoma County is hereby confirmed, such that a special assessment shall be
charged against each delinquent parcel as listed in the Property Tax Levy Report,
pursuant to Government Code, Title 4, Chapter 13, including § §39560 et seq.
Attachment 2
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COST REPORT FOR 2017 WEED ABATEMENT
CHARGES AND EXPENSES
DISKING
MOWING
HAND WORK
BLADING
PULLING FEE
PARCELS ABATED BY CONTRACTOR:
10—CHARGES:
10.5 HOURS
37.50 HOURS
125.75 HOURS
0.00 HOURS
15 PULLS
PRIVATE 15
CITY 1
fI
CHARGED TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS (15 PARCELS)
(INCL. PER PARCEL ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $195.00) $7,146.25
CHARGED TO CITY DEPARTMENT FUNDS (I PARCEL)
[HousING (I )] $335.00
(INCL. PER PARCEL ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $195.00)
TOTAL AMOUNT BILLED: $79481.25
► EXPENSES:
PAYMENT OF CONTRACTOR'S (KEYSTONE TRACTOR SERVICE
DIRECT INVOICES: $4,751.25
POSTAGE: 1 ST & 2ND HEARING LETTERS: $200.56
POSTAGE: 11T INVOICING -15 @ $0.49: $7.35
POSTAGE: ADD'L "PLEASE ABATE" LETTERS — 6 @ $0.49: $2.94
LABOR HOURS SPENT FOR PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT (FIRE MARSHAL): 10 HRS $556.40
WEED INSPECTOR (FIRE INSPECTOR I) (5/1- 8/24): 60 HRS $2,118.00
SECRETARY: 40 HRS $1105.60
► ACCOUNTING SUMMARY:
TOTAL EXPENSES: $8,742.10
TOTAL CHARGES: $ 7,481.25
TOTAL EXPENSES: - $ 8,742.10
BALANCE SUMMARY: —$1,26 ®85
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UNPAID INVOICES
FOR WEED ABATEMENT WORK
PERFORMED IN 2017
SUBMIT FOR PROPERTY TAX LEVY
APN PROPERTY ADDRESS
NAME
Attachment 3
AMOUNT
DUE
019580012
129 SUNNY HILL DR
LOWE ALLEN & JUDY
$80.00
019401019
2762 I ST EXT
SPELLMAN KENT
$957.50
007380007
100 LYNCH CREEK WAY
PETALUMA HOSPITAL DISTRICT
$353.75
008073001
910 ENGLISH ST
MILL VALLEY S &B LLC
$721.25
007143015
215 WELLER ST
PACIFICA HAYSTACK LP
$275.00
TOTAL
$2,387.50