HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 5A 09/21/2009CITY OF PETALUI~IA, CALIFORNIA
m
September 21, 2009
Age>mda Title:. Public- Hearing and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution to 1VIeeting Date: September 21,2009
Conf P111 Cost of Abatement of Weeds .:and Approve Forwarding of Unpaid
Bills to the County Assessor's Office for Collection as Assessments. 1Vleeting ~'ime: 7:00 P.1VI.
Category: ^ ~P.resentatiion ^ Appointments ,^ Consent ~ Public Hearing ^ 1<Jnfinisbed Business ^ New' Business
IIDeI>,arti}nent: IDirector: Coaatact Person: Ph®~e 1Vu>rxeber:
Fire Larry B. Anderso , Cary D. Fergus, (707) 778-4389
Fire. Chief Interim Fire Marshal
~'otal Cost of Proposal or Project: $18,5 eted: ~ lya>aae of Pand(a)s Contract Services
The majority of funds expended for ths`program are Account Numiber(s): 13400-54160
recoverable from property owners billed for the .abatement
of weeds on their parcels. Current Fund balance(s): N/A
Amount Budgeted: $.18,500.00
Reco~aanendation: It is recommended that tie City Council take the followia><g action:
Hold a public hearing to confirm the cost of the 2009 Weed Abatement Program, as well as adopt a Resolution to
approve forwarding of any unpaid bills to the County Assessor.
1. ^ First reading of Ordinance approved unanimously, or with unanimous vote to allow posting prior to second reading
2. ^ First reading of Ordinance approved without unanimous vote: Ordinance has been published/posted prior to second
reading; see Attachment
3. ^ Other action requiring special notice: Notice„has been given, see Attachment
Summary Statement:
Property owners are encouraged to remove overgrown weeds growing upon their properties themselves or by a contractor
of their choosing. When this does not occur in a timely manner, th'e City's weed contractor conducts the abatement under
the direction of the Fire Marshal's Office (F}V1.0). During this year's weed:abatement program, approximately 613 property
owners (City Departments & private) were notified. by mail to abate their weeds ,by May 3151. A total of 90 parcels were
abated by the City's weed contractor during"the, nine (9) week billing period and invoices for such services were provided
to private parcel .owners. with an August 6,.20.09 :due date for payment. Failure to remit payment by August 7`h (or failure to
have made contact with the FMO about payment: intentions) will result in any unpaid invoices being attached to that
specific parcel's firture' property tax bill by the_ County Assessor's Office, State law requires the City Council to hold a
Pubic Hearing to }dear objections by private owners about the cost of weed abatement performed on their pro erty.
Attachmemfs t® Agenda Packet. Item:
1. Agenda Report;
~~.2. ~R'esolufon Cgnlrmng-Cost ~ofAbatement of Weeds and A~pprovirig theForwarding ofUnpaid Bills to the
County Assessor's Office for Collection as Assessments; and
3. 20.09 Cost of Weed Abatement Report .(includes the list of delinquent. parcel owners):
IVo property owners writh unpaid•invoices live within 500' of'any. council members' property. 'i'berefore,
there is no conflict of interest_w~ith, council; ineanbers talon action on t-lis item.
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Itev'ewed is Finance Director• ._
Revevve ' _ _
d' by City Attorney:
A roved Ci 1Vlana er:
~' 3 V "
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l
ate:
~ Date: Date:
a
le: S:\Fire Prevention\Weeds\Weeds 09\Iieso\092109-City
Rev. #,~ ,~ Date Last Revised' 09/14/09 Fi
~-~,~ ouncil Agenda Bill Confirming Cost of Weeds-ll-091409.doc
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CITY OF PE'I'gJ, CALF®
SEPTElVIBER B'19 2®®9
AGENDA 1ZEP®)itT
FOR,
Public Hearing and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution to Confirm
Cost of Abatement of Weeds and Approve Forwarding of Unpaid.
Bills :to the County Assessor's Office for Collection as Assessments
1. RECUMNIENDATION:
That the Petaluma City Council hold a public hearing to confirm the cost of the 2009 weed abatement
program and thereafter adopt a resolution to confirm the 2009 Weed Abatement Cost Report and
approve immediate forwarding of any unpaid bills to the County Assessor's Office for collection as
assessments.
2. ]BACKGROUND:
The weed abatement program has been in effect within the City of Petaluma for over twenty-three
years. Its purpose is to reduce the threat of fire to structures and property during the high fire danger
months of May to October due to overgrown weeds, brush- and foliage. Many potential fire threats
are stopped or:slowed by the reduction of combustible vegetation.
This weed season, approximately 613 property owners were notified by mail and were given until
May 3IS` to abate excess .combustible vegetation upon their properties. A subsequent hearing was
held on July 20'~ for parcels not- originally listed for the May 18`h,~ 2009 hearing. (5718/09 Resolution
2009-032; 7/20/09 Resolution 2009-.119.) Property owners were encouraged to remove the weeds
from their properties themselves or by a contractor of their choosing. In the instances where
abatement failed to occur in a timely manner, the City's weed contractor conducted the abatement
under the direction of the Fire :Marshal's Office (FM'O); which then managed the work of the
contractor and the invoicing, of the property owners, (both public and private), including assigning a
$l55 administrative fee on al_1 private parcels, LADS and those deemed as Enterprise funds.
A lengthier abatement season.; kept final invoicing from happening until mid-July this year. Property
owners who- received invoices were given until August 6`h to make full payment or o contact the=
FMO'to discuss their individual_stuatons and/or to set up a payment plan. Failure to remit-the fee~by
August 7.`h placed those ~del,inquent parcels on a list due to be sent to the County Assessor for
attachment fo the specific parcel's 2009/2010 property tax bill. State law requires the City Council to
hold a. Public Hearing ao .hear any objections by the private parcel.. owners about the cost of weed
abatement performed on their property.
DISCUSSION'
.Thus is a rout~ine'hearrig. In the past, few or no property owners have come before the City Council
to,,protest then- invoices`. It is anti~ci~pated that this .year will be no different.
It is therefore recommended the City Council hold a public hearing to confirm the cost for this year's
weed abatement season and. adopt a Resolution to immediately forward the unpaid bills to the County
Assessor's Office.
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4. 'FINANCIAL IMPACTS:.
The weed" abatement program is a 100% o cost recovery program. All the funds expended are
recovered from .property owners who are billed for the abatement work done on their parcels. The
$155 .administrative fee charged to each parcel, LAD and Enterprise fund property helps recover the
cost of~management and administration of this program. Please see the attached Billing Report for a
complete breakdown of costs for-the 2009 Season.
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RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE COST OF ABATEMENT OF WEEDS
AND APPROVING THE FORWARDING OF UNPAID BILLS
TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR COLLECTION AS ASSESSMENTS
REDS, on the 21St day of September; Cary Fergus, Interim Fire Marshal for the City of Petaluma,
California; rendered to the City Council of Petaluma an itemized report detailing the cost of removing
weeds, excessive organic yard waste & foliage, etc. from ninety (90) separateparcels, all as shown and set
forth on the attached itemized report. Said work was done. pursuant to the Municipal Weed Abatement law
and proceedings of this City Council, including Resolution 2009=032 N:C.S. adopted March 16, 2009; and
WHERE~4S, the Interim Fire Marshal's Report of the cost of this season's weed abatement program
was posted by him on or before the 16`h day of September, 2009 on the Chamber door of the City Council in
City Hall, Petaluma, California. Said displayed notice and Report stated that a public hearing would be held
before this City Council on this 21 S` day of September at the hour of'7:00 P:M., or as soon thereafter as can
be heard, about the outcome of`the abatement season; and
W>FIE~?~S, the Interim Fire Marshal kept an accounting of nuisance weed abatement completed by the
City's weed contractor, Keystone Tractor Service, and submitted the 2009 Weed Abatement Cost Report
("the Report") to the City Council showing the cost of removing weeds, organic yard waste, foliage and dirt
from the 90 parcels abated this year; and
REAS, 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
WI-~REAS, at the time and place referred to in said notice, the City Council heard the Interim Fire
Marshal's Report, together with any objections raised.by property owners, and the City Council made its
recommendations and any modifications it deemed necessary to be included in the final Report;
1VOdV; T'>1~REF'®RE, >l$E IT RESOLVEI9 that the recitals above are adopted as findings of the City
Council.
IaE 1<F FiJR'I'I~R RES®LVED that the Interim Fire Marshal's 2009 Weed Abatement Cost Report
("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.
V
~E I~'~ T R;SOL~D that a copy of the Report shall be.given to the County
Auditor/Assessor of Sonoma County, such that a special.assessment shall be charged against each
delinquent parcel as listed in the Report, pursuant to the Municipal Weed Abatement Law, Government
Code §§35901 et seq.
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2009 COST O WEED ATE ITT ~PO'T
C DES EXPENSES
Disking
1Vlowirig
.Hand. Work
Blaring
Miscellaneous .Associated Charges
Pulling Fee ($25/per)
Parcels abated by Contractor
.Private
City
P~CIEI.S ~A~'ED ~Y COl~TCTOR:
C GES
Charged to private property owners (31 parcels,)
(includes Administration Fee=@'$155;00 for 27 of`31 parcels)
Charged to City department funds. (59 parcels)
(includes Administrative Fee of $155 to 37 Enterprise and LAD accounts)
EENSES
Payment;of Contractor's (Keystone Tractor Service) Direct Invoices
Postage:,;Letters - 366 @ $.42; 1 l @ $.44; 6 @ $.59; 1 @ $1:51
Postage:. Invoices - 22 @ $.42
<Fees waived for special circumstances/economic hardship>
Labor Hours Spent for Program
Management: (Interim .Fire 1Vlarshal):
Weed Inspector (P/T Fire Inspector I):
Secretary:
Finance (Accounting Assistant 1I):
75.75 hours
244.75 hours
315:00 hours.
3,3.75 hours
$3,775,.00
88 pulls
31
59
'I'O'I'AI.. AlVflOIJNT` ~II,I.,ED:
12 hours
13 5 hours
90 hours
2 hours
T'07<'AL EXPEI+ISES:
90 .
$ 42,427.50
$ 39,6fl3.07
Total Charges: $ 42,427.50
Total Expenses: - $ 39,613.07
~AI,AI~CE ~' 1VIARY: + 2 X14.43
$ 12,154.50
$ 30,273.00
32,507.50
$ 163.67
$ 9.24
$ <677.50>
$ 622.92
$ 4,765.50
$ 2;1.69.00.
$ ~ 52.80
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~ `~®iJNT
APN PROPERTY ADDRESS NAME
DUE
008454004 12, MISSION DR1VE BARELLA DOMINIC J $750.00
137061035 718 MCDOWELL BLVD NORTH .. KEITH JOSEPH P & GAROLYN $61.5:50
13706.1026 750 MCDOWELL BLVD NORTH KEITH JOSEPH P & CAROLYN $370:50
0074L2Q31 1325. INDUSTRIAL AVENUE RICH'ARDS`NORMAN B'ET AL $462.50
007422002 224 STONY POIN T ROAD KELLER•JOHN JR &-JUNE $295.50
06071035 525 CHERRY STREET BOWERS DRUID. & NANCY $900:00
007303002 1445 SIERRA DR1VE HU LiLY $1.,080.50
'T'OTAL $4,474.50
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