Weed Abatement - 2015-2016Item: 10.
Category: Public Hearing
Date: August 2, 2016
TITLE Placing the Cost of Abating Hazardous Vegetation an the Property Tax
Assessment Roll (Resolution/Roll Call Vote)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Gouncil take the following action:
1. Adopt a resolution, placing the cost of abating hazardous vegetation on the
property tax assessment roll.
DISCUSSION
Abatement of hazardous vegetation (weeds} is managed through the Weed Abatement
Division of the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Management, upon action of the City to notice and authorize abatement.
On December 1, 2015, the City Council declared weeds to be a public nuisance, allowing
the County to send notices to property owners whose properties were overgrown with
weeds. The notice advised that the weeds must be voluntarily removed or that removal
would be performed by the County at the owner's expense.
On January 5, 2016, the City Council held a public hearing to receive protests from
property owners whose properties were identified as having a weed problem and to direct
the County to proceed with abatement on those properties where weeds were not
voluntarily removed by the owners. At that meeting, Vivian Bracher, owner of 1766 White
Oaks Road addressed the Council asking that her property be removed from the list. After
further review, County Weed Abatement removed the property from the abatement list.
County Weed Abatement Division informs staff that of the 33 properties identified as
having overgrown weeds as of the January 5th Council meeting, abatement was ordered
for nine properties, with the other properties being cleared by the owners. Exhibit A of
Attachment 1 identifies the nine properties where weed abatement services were ordered
and the cost of the service (the assessment). The list also identifies the remaining
properties where weeds were voluntarily removed (incurring a $55 administrative fee). The
assessments for the properties will be placed on the property tax roll as a lien and
collected together with all other property taxes.
FISCAL IMPACT
None to the City, if placed on the assessment roll.
RESOLUTION NO.
BEING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMPBELL
PLACING THE COST OF ABATING HAZARDOUS VEGETATION ON THE
PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ROLL.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Campbell did on the 19th day of July, 2016,
hold a Public Hearing for the purpose of hearing any objections by any of the property
owners liable to be assessed far the work of abating hazardous vegetation on their
property; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental
Management recommended that the cost of abating nuisance of hazardous vegetation
on such property shall constitute special assessments against such property and shall
constitute a lien on such property for the amount of such assessments, as outlined in
Exhibit A and made a part hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE iT RESOLVED that the Santa Clara County Department of
Agriculture and Environmental Management shall cause the amount of assessment to
be entered on the City assessment roll opposite the description of the particular
property and the amount shall be collected together with all other taxes thereon upon
the property. Thereafter, such amounts shall be collected at the same time and in the
same manner as general City taxes. All laws and ordinances applicable to the levy,
collection and enforcement of City taxes are hereby made applicable to such special
assessment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the property owners have the option, if they so
desire, of paying the assessment directly to the Collector's Office before said entry on
said assessment roll as outlined in Exhibit A and attached hereto.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2016, by the following rail
call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNGILMEMBERS:
ABSTAINED: COUNC(LMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
APPROVED:
Jason T. Baker, Mayor
ATTEST:
Wendy Wood, City Clerk