HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6.A 10/07/2019DATE
TO:
FROM:
Agenda Item #6.A
October 7, 2019
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
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 2019 Weed Abatement Season, 707
properties (City and private) were identified as requiring abatement and respective owners were
notified by mail to abate weeds. The weed removal deadline was June 15, 2019. Property
inspections began June 17, 2019.
Please note that none of the parcels noticed for this hearing are within 1,000' of any Council
Members' property.
DISCUSSION
A Public Hearing was held on May 20, 2019 for the benefit of 590 parcels listed on the original
weed master list and again on July 15, 2019 for an additional 117 parcels. A total of 23 parcels
were abated in 2019 by the City's weed contractor during the weed season. 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 2019 weed abatement season
there were 12 parcels that were abated that failed to remit payment for a total amount of
$6,433.00. 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.
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On March 18, 2019, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2019-034 N.C.S. which declared
that weeds growing upon parcels of public and private property are a public nuisance requiring
abatement and set for May 20, 2019 and, if necessary, July 15, 2019 as Public Hearing dates. On
May 20, 2019 a Public Hearing was held to hear any objections on the original 590 parcel weed
abatement list (444 private/public parcel owners and 146 City -owned sites). There were no
objections. On July 15, 2019 a Public Hearing was held to hear any objections on the additional
117 private/public parcels; there were no objections.
All property owners on the original weeds master list and additional list were notified by letter
mailed via USPS of the weed abatement deadline and that failure to remit fees due would result
in a special assessment placed on a secured property tax roll. All invoices mailed to property
owners after abatement stated amount due and that amounts not received by the due date would
be referred to the County Tax Assessors Office for payment.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The weed abatement program is intended to recover 100% of the costs. For 2019, the total
program charges were $16,022.00, including $11,215.00 for services provided by the City's
weed abatement contractor, and $4,807.00 in administrative fees. The total program cost
including staff time was $29,097.75. For the 2019 weed abatement season there were 12 parcels
that were abated that failed to remit payment for a total amount of $6,433.00. 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 2019 Weed Abatement
3. Property Tax Levy Form Detailing Unpaid Invoices for Weed Abatement Services
Conducted in 2019.
2
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 7th 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 twenty-three (23) 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 2019-034 N.C.S. adopted March 18, 2019; 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 2019 Weed
Abatement Cost Report ("Report") to the City Council showing the cost of removing weeds,
excessive organic yard waste, foliage, overgrowth, dirt and/or debris from the twenty-three
(23) parcels abated this season; and
WHEREAS, before said Report was submitted to the City Council, a copy of same was
posted on the Chamber door of the City Council prior to the 1 st day of October 2019 and for
at least three days, together with notice of the date on which the Report would be submitted
to the City Council for confirmation. Said displayed notice and report states that a Public
Hearing would be held before this City Council on this 7th day of October at the hour of 6:45
P.M., or as soon thereafter as can be heard, about the outcome of the abatement season; 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 2019 Weed Abatement Cost 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
COST REPORT FOR 2019 WEED ABATEMENT
CHARGES AND EXPENSES
DISKING
11.50 HOURS
MOWING
55.25 HOURS
HAND WORK
186 HOURS
BLADING
2 HOURS
PULLING FEE
20 PULLS
PARCELS ABATED BY CONTRACTOR:
PRIVATE 23
CITY 0
W
► CHARGES:
CHARGED TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS (23 PARCELS)
(INCL. PER PARCEL ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $209.00) $16,022.00
CHARGED TO CITY DEPARTMENT FUNDS (0 PARCELS)
(INCL. PER PARCEL ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $209.00) $0.00
TOTAL AMOUNT BILLED: $16,022.00
No- EXPENSES:
PAYMENT OF CONTRACTOR'S (KEYSTONE TRACTOR SERVICE)
DIRECT INVOICES: $11,215.00
POSTAGE: HEARING LETTERS: $215.20
POSTAGE: 1 ST INVOICING - 23 @ $0.50: $11.50
POSTAGE: ADD'L "PLEASE ABATE" LETTERS -9 @ $0.49: $8.00
ESTIMATED MINIMUM LABOR HOURS SPENT FOR PROGRAM (COST INCLUDES OVERHEAD)
MANAGEMENT (FIRE MARSHAL): 15 NRS $3,067.05
WEED INSPECTOR (FIRE INSPECTOR I) (5/1-8/24): 60 NRS $7,973.40
SECRETARY: 70 HRS $6,606.60
►ACCOUNTING SUMMARY:
TOTAL EXPENSES: $29,097.75
TOTAL CHARGES: $ 16,022.00
TOTAL EXPENSES: - $ 29,096.75
5
91612{119
ANIT DUE
5427.75
S334.0a
$595.25
5334.00
$3.34.00
$394.00
$631.50
$340.25
$642.75
$656.50
$495.25
$1,247.75
TOTAL $6,433.00
i
Unpaid Weed Abatement (Petaluma, 2019)
APN (
PROPERTY ADDRESS
�
f_1i�'N ER
8123015 I
201 PETALUVIA BLVD SOUTH
OT-NION' O1L COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
0I9470040
0 SLT . SLOPF RD E /currier Buckeye & E. Sunnyslope)
VICKERS JEFFREY & CATIILELN
006441013
745 wEBSFER ST NORTH
CRIC7RCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LDS
007261013
145 ARLINGTON DR
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
007261014
149 ARLINGTON TSR
STATE. OF C;ALIFORN1A
007380007
100 LY'tiCRI CREEK IVY
�PFTALUMA HOSPITAL DISTRICT
149131028
0 MCGREGOR AVE (creek behind Greenbriar & Albert)
SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY
007412053
0 AUTO) CENTER DR
LOB lTWFS'I'M NTS
020140053 I
WINDSOR AT iVESTTRN AND ROUNDABOUT
WEST HAVEN I10MEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
020030042
'WINDSOR RSR (Southwest Side Closest to Roundabout)
COUNTY OF SONOMA REGIONAL PARKS
008510041
57 GRANT AVE
TRUE MARY L TR
019401019
2762 1 ST EXT
SPELLMAN KENT
91612{119
ANIT DUE
5427.75
S334.0a
$595.25
5334.00
$3.34.00
$394.00
$631.50
$340.25
$642.75
$656.50
$495.25
$1,247.75
TOTAL $6,433.00
i