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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7526 City of Palo Alto (ID # 7526) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 6/19/2017 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Public Hearing: Adoption of a Resolution Confirming Weed Abatement & Assessment Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of a Resolution Confirming Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Cost of Abatement to be a Special Assessment on the Respective Properties Described Therein From: City Manager Lead Department: Fire Recommendation Staff recommends Council (1) hold a public hearing to hear and consider objections from affected property owners of proposed assessments related to completed weed abatement work, and (2) adopt the attached resolution confirming the report and ordering abatement costs to be a special assessment on the properties specified in the report. Background The Weed Abatement Division of Santa Clara County Agriculture and Environmental Management administers the contract for weed abatement within the City of Palo Alto, in accordance with an agreement established on April 18, 1977 between the City and County. On January 9, 2017, in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 8.08, the City Council declared weeds to be a nuisance and ordered that the nuisance be abated. A public hearing was held on February 6, 2017, to consider objections to the proposed destruction or removal of the weeds. No objections were noted. Once the above steps had been taken, the County Weed Abatement Division instructed its contractor to abate weeds on City and private properties within Palo Alto. That work has now been completed. Property owners were notified the third week in January 2017 that weeds were to be abated by April 30th, 2017, either by the owners or by the County. If the property owners chose to have the County abate the weeds, the abatement charges would be levied against the respective properties as an assessment by the County Assessor. The County has since informed the property owners of the costs for destroying and removing the weeds. City of Palo Alto Page 2 The City Clerk has published the required notice of this hearing in the Palo Alto Weekly. The cost report by the County Weed Abatement Division has been posted on the City Hall Plaza bulletin board for ten days prior to this hearing. Discussion Property owners may object to the charges for weed abatement being levied against their properties. The charge consists of the contractor’s cost plus 150 percent administrative charges, in accordance with Palo Alto’s contract with Santa Clara County (CMR #7527, December 12, 2016). A representative from the County Weed Abatement Division will be present at the public hearing with the records of weed abatement that have taken place. Should there be any modifications in the proposed assessments as a result of the hearing; changes in the assessment spread will be made as necessary. After any recalculations are completed, and Council adopts the attached resolution confirming the abatements and ordering those costs to be imposed as liens on the abated properties, the assessments will be submitted to the County Assessor for entry on the October tax roll upon which general City taxes are to be collected. RESOURCE IMPACT There is no direct fiscal impact of this action to the City. The assessments identified on Exhibit “A” of the resolution, totaling $32,509.02, will be imposed as liens on the properties listed and will not be borne by the City. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This procedure is consistent with existing City policies. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The Santa Clara County Counsel has determined the Weed Abatement Program to be Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308. Attachments:  Attachment A: Resolution Confirming Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Cost of Abatement NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 1 Resolution No. _____ Resolution Confirming Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Cost of Abatement to be a Special Assessment on the Respective Properties Described Therein R E C I T A L S A. The Council of the City of Palo Alto has heretofore declared weeds growing on certain properties within the City to be a public nuisance by Resolution No. 9657, dated January 9th, 2017; and B. The Council on February 6th, 2017 did adopt Resolution No. 9666 thereby ordering the weed nuisance abated; and C. Subsequent to the giving of said notice, the Fire Chief, through his Administrator, the Weed Abatement Division of Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, has caused to be abated the weeds on the herein described properties; and D. The Fire Chief, through his Administrator, the Weed Abatement Division of Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, has filed his report and assessment list for weed abatement as provided by law and a hearing has been duly set and noticed, for objections to said report and assessment list and for confirmation; and E. The Council has duly considered the report and assessment list and any objections thereto. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION 1. The report and assessment list is in all respects complete and correct and is hereby confirmed. The amounts of the cost for abating the nuisance are confirmed and those remaining unpaid, as shown on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein, shall constitute special assessments against the respective parcels of land and are a lien on the property for the amount of the respective assessment. SECTION 2. All written or oral protests or objections to said report and assessment list are overruled or denied. SECTION 3. The unpaid assessments shown on Exhibit “A” shall be entered upon the 2016-2017 tax roll against the parcels of land and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as general City taxes, be subject to the same interest and penalties, and be subject to the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency. All laws and ordinances NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 2 applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of City taxes are hereby made applicable to this special assessment. SECTION 4. Santa Clara County has determined the weed abatement program to be categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: __________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: __________________________ _____________________________ Deputy City Attorney City Manager _____________________________ Fire Chief _____________________________ Director of Administrative Services NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 3 EXHIBIT A NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 4 NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 5 NOT YET APPROVED 170608 th 020619 6