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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2503-4437CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, August 11, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     16.PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Objections for Weed Abatement Assessments; and Adoption of Resolution Confirming the Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Abatement Costs to be a Special Assessment on the Properties Specified in the Report; CEQA status - categorically exempt. City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: ACTION ITEMS Lead Department: Fire Meeting Date: August 11, 2025 Report #:2503-4437 TITLE PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of Objections for Weed Abatement Assessments; and Adoption of Resolution Confirming the Weed Abatement Report and Ordering Abatement Costs to be a Special Assessment on the Properties Specified in the Report; CEQA status - categorically exempt. 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 a resolution confirming the report and ordering abatement costs to be a special assessment on the properties specified in the report (Attachment A) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management and the City of Palo Alto work together to protect our community from fire. One of the purposes of the Weed Abatement Program is to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative overgrowth and the accumulation of combustible materials. Adoption of the resolution will result in the total of $12,735.97 imposed as liens on the properties listed in the attachment for the cost of weed abatement work performed. 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 December 2, 2024, 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 10, 2025, to consider objections to the proposed destruction or removal of the weeds. Property owners were notified in the first week of January 2025 that weeds were to be abated by April 30, 2025, 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. 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. The County then informs the property owners of the costs for destroying and removing the weeds. The City Clerk has published the required notice of this hearing in the Palo Alto Daily Post. The cost report by the County Weed Abatement Division has been posted on the City Hall Plaza bulletin board for at least ten (10) days prior to this hearing. ANALYSIS 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 spreadsheet 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. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT There is no direct fiscal impact of this action to the City. The assessments identified on Exhibit A of the resolution, totaling $12,735.97, will be imposed as liens on the properties listed and will be borne by the property owners, not the City. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The entire weed abatement program is coordinated by the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management. Coordination includes contracts, inspections, nuisance reports/lists and fees. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Weed Abatement Program is Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Resolution Confirming 2025 Weed Abatement Program Assessment Report Attachment B: Weed Abatement Summary and Timeline APPROVED BY: Geoffrey Blackshire, Fire Chief NOT YET APPROVED Attachment A 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. 10201, dated December 2, 2024, and B. The Council on February 10th, 2025, held a public hearing for objections to the proposed destruction and removal of weeds at the properties indicated in the County’s list for weed abatement. C. The Fire Chief, through his Administrator, the Weed Abatement Division of Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, has caused the weeds to be abated on the properties described in the County’s list for weed abatement; 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. 027072525 1 NOT YET APPROVED Attachment A SECTION 3. The unpaid assessments shown on Exhibit “A” shall be entered upon the 2025- 2026 tax roll against the parcels of land and shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as general City taxes, subject to the same interest and penalties, and subject to the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency. All laws and ordinances 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: Assistant City Attorney City Manager Fire Chief Director of Administrative Services 027072525 2 2025 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM CITY OF PALO ALTO ASSESSMENT REPORT Exhibit A TAX ROLL Situs APN OWNER ADDRESS AMT 1 1605 Edgewood 003-12-002 Miao, Nina Yanti 931 Clara Dr PALO ALTO 94303-4002 $1,920.47 2 782 Greer 003-41-065 Deng, Jingjing And Jiang , Lijun 20653 Cheryl Dr CUPERTINO 95014 $105.00 3 1071 Embarcadero 003-42-055 Kothary, Nishita N And Shah , Niraj 1071 Embarcadero Rd PALO ALTO 94303-3149 $105.00 4 2385 St Francis 003-48-021 Zadik, Yair And Linda 2385 St Francis Dr PALO ALTO 94303-3136 $105.00 5 2075 Louis 003-50-021 Keller, Jeffrey R 2075 Louis Rd PALO ALTO 94303-3452 $201.00 6 742 Southampton 003-59-041 Agrawal, Parag And Agarwala , 1725 Newell Rd PALO ALTO 94303-2951 $105.00 7 260 Byron 120-02-030 Liveright, Michael 260 Byron St PALO ALTO 94301-1307 $201.00 8 655 Embarcadero 120-08-023 L S & Co Partnership 555 Byron St Unit 105 PALO ALTO 94301-1303 $201.00 9 733 Ramona 120-27-063 Koda, Ross K Trustee P O Box 156 SOUTH DOS PALOS 93665 $105.00 10 2220 Bryant 124-14-024 L S & Co. 555 Byron St Unit 105 PALO ALTO 94301 $201.00 11 1001 Colorado 127-04-091 Tsunoda Roland T 1001 Colorado Ave PALO ALTO 94303-3806 $201.00 12 4102 Sutherland 127-16-005 Yurchenco, James R 4102 Sutherland Dr PALO ALTO 94303-4730 $105.00 13 3189 Louis 127-24-031 Kato, Takashi And Ayano 3189 Louis Rd PALO ALTO 94303-3955 $105.00 14 Middlefield 127-33-064 E & R Inv Properties Llc Et Al Po Box 500 BURLINGAME 94011 $105.00 15 924 Colorado 127-40-006 Lin Stanley B And Jean Lai Trustee 1037 High St PALO ALTO 94301-2425 $105.00 16 464 Colorado 132-08-115 Tanphaichitr, Saksiri M And Bellers , 464 Colorado Ave PALO ALTO 94306-2414 $105.00 17 454 Colorado 132-08-118 Ramchandran, Asish And Kavitha 2657 Kipling St PALO ALTO 94306 $105.00 18 2689 Bryant 132-13-055 Chou, Lynn H L Po Box 60416 PALO ALTO 94306 $201.00 19 3166 Kipling 132-15-002 Pao, Joy J And Ke , Shian-ren 67 Orchard Hills St ATHERTON 94027 $105.00 Report Date: 7/9/2025 (List Sorted by APN) Page 1 2025 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM CITY OF PALO ALTO ASSESSMENT REPORT Exhibit A TAX ROLL Situs APN OWNER ADDRESS AMT 20 354 El Verano 132-16-088 Zhou, Zheng Trustee 354 El Verano Ave PALO ALTO 94306-2952 $105.00 21 3120 Cowper 132-20-155 Valentine, Mary E 3120 Cowper St PALO ALTO 94306-3001 $105.00 22 339 El Verano 132-21-022 Mizote, Harumi Trustee 339 El Verano Ave PALO ALTO 94306-2940 $1,536.50 23 309 El Verano 132-21-023 Zhang, Qianli And Qiu , Yunfeng 309 El Verano Ave PALO ALTO 94306-2940 $105.00 24 3271 Bryant 132-21-027 Conlin, Charlene M Trustee 25210 Jake St VENETA 97487 $105.00 25 3535 Bryant 132-22-034 Darden, Ruthie L Trustee 3535 Bryant St PALO ALTO 94306-4263 $105.00 26 3358 Bryant 132-22-070 Beeson, Donald H Trustee Po Box 60458 PALO ALTO 94306 $201.00 27 3541 Bryant 132-23-033 Kaposhilin, Nicholas Trustee 936 N California Ave PALO ALTO 94303-3405 $105.00 28 84 Roosevelt 132-23-055 Leung, John Ka Yu And Joanna Kong Po Box 5358 SAN MATEO 94402-0358 $105.00 29 34 Roosevelt 132-29-061 Lyons, Charles P Trustee & Et Al 34 Roosevelt Cir PALO ALTO 94306-4216 $105.00 30 18 Roosevelt 132-29-069 Bernstein, Amir D Trustee 18 Roosevelt Cir PALO ALTO 94306 $105.00 31 3830 Carlson 132-30-058 Cheng, Jing 4521 Campus Dr Unit 363 IRVINE 92612 $105.00 32 Birch 132-33-060 At&t Comms Of Calif Inc 1090 E Duane Ave SUNNYVALE 94085 $201.00 33 3561 Park 132-34-052 Mahal, Jaswinder 180 Park Sharon Dr SAN JOSE 95136-2535 $105.00 34 451 Wilton 132-35-025 Song, Zhiqiang And Chen , Weiwei 451 Wilton Ave PALO ALTO 94306-2859 $105.00 35 365 Wilton 132-35-033 Tong, Peter And Pao , Chung Chian 18444 Forest Crossing Ct OLNEY 20832 $105.00 36 421 Fernando 132-39-037 Williger, Edward M P O Box 20089 STANFORD 94309-0089 $201.00 37 3585 El Camino Real 132-40-058 2060 Birch Llc 42840 Christy St Unit 209 FREMONT 94538 $105.00 38 3545 El Camino Real 132-40-063 South East Travel Service (usa) Co 3545 El Camino Real PALO ALTO 94306 $105.00 Report Date: 7/9/2025 (List Sorted by APN) Page 2 2025 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM CITY OF PALO ALTO ASSESSMENT REPORT Exhibit A TAX ROLL Situs APN OWNER ADDRESS AMT 39 3130 Ramona 132-48-033 Ding, Zhimin And Zhu , Xinyi 3130 Ramona St PALO ALTO 94306-2922 $105.00 40 2740 Byron 132-55-020 Rv Constructions.com Llc 2791 Cowper St PALO ALTO 94306-2448 $105.00 41 613 Stanford 137-01-059 Baumann, John R Trustee 613 Stanford Ave PALO ALTO 94306-1412 $201.00 42 2150 Yale 137-01-134 Liang, Ke 33206 Falcon Dr FREMONT 94555 $105.00 43 2175 Oberlin 137-03-036 Yu, Shuping And Dai , Xiaojie 2175 Oberlin St PALO ALTO 94306-1340 $105.00 44 2153 Oberlin 137-03-037 Mendelowitz, Louis I 2153 Oberlin St PALO ALTO 94306-1318 $105.00 45 3700 El Camino Real 137-11-078 Kss Investment Llc 1380 Miravalle Ave LOS ALTOS 94024-5744 $105.00 46 788 Los Robles 137-13-112 Bloomquist, Lynda L Trustee 788 Los Robles Av PALO ALTO 94306-3159 $201.00 47 883 Ilima 137-14-054 Xie Xinmin And Li Xiaosu Trustee 2633 Martinez Drive BURLINGAME 94010 $105.00 48 4025 Orme 137-20-044 Zhu Jay Jiabi Trustee & Et Al 827 Richardson Ct PALO ALTO 94303-4152 $105.00 49 4146 El Camino Real 137-24-034 Juan, Chung-chiung And Su Chen 6 Atherton Oaks Ln ATHERTON 94027 $201.00 50 3460 Hillview 142-16-059 Stanford Real Estate 415 Broadway, 3rd Redwood City 94063 $105.00 51 1072 Arastradero 142-16-061 Stanford Real Estate 415 Broadway, 3rd Redwood City 94063 $105.00 52 3495 Deer Creek 142-16-062 Stanford Real Estate 415 Broadway, 3rd Redwood City 94063 $201.00 53 Deer Creek 142-16-064 Stanford Real Estate 415 Broadway, 3rd Redwood City 94063 $105.00 54 3500 Deer Creek 142-16-066 Stanford Real Estate 415 Broadway, 3rd Redwood City 94063 $201.00 55 4208 Ruthelma 148-02-002 Shiu, Boon W And Choi , Keehyun 4208 Ruthelma Ave PALO ALTO 94306-4109 $105.00 56 4236 Darlington 148-03-044 Wang, Youxiang And Li , Zhengqi 4236 Darlington Ct PALO ALTO 94306-4129 $105.00 57 4201 Park 148-03-060 Bordia, Anupam And Surbhi 4201 Park Blvd PALO ALTO 94306-4144 $105.00 Report Date: 7/9/2025 (List Sorted by APN) Page 3 2025 WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM CITY OF PALO ALTO ASSESSMENT REPORT Exhibit A TAX ROLL Situs APN OWNER ADDRESS AMT 58 4338 Silva 148-12-013 Karupasamy, Karthikeyan Trustee & 444 Del Medio Ave MOUNTAIN VIEW 94040-1161 $105.00 59 4346 Silva 148-12-014 Jiang, Wei And Han , Qiuxia Trustee 4346 Silva Ave PALO ALTO 94306-4421 $105.00 60 4350 Silva 148-12-016 Hu, Zhe And Ma , Yinglan 591 Sierra Ave MOUNTAIN VIEW 94041-2144 $105.00 61 4179 Oak Hill 175-01-025 Bachrach, Sylvia Rashmi Trustee & 12 Star Way MOUNTAIN VIEW 94040 $201.00 62 4243 Manuela 175-02-053 Weakland, Alan Trustee & Et Al 515 S Flower St Floor 25 LOS ANGELES 90071 $105.00 63 4100 Old Adboe 175-20-074 Yamarashi Iruka Llc 333 W Santa Clara St Ste 700 SAN JOSE 95113 $105.00 64 4103 Old Trace 175-20-078 Smithwick, Alton D And Ursula L 803 Russell Ln MILPITAS 95035 $105.00 65 890 Mockingbird 175-20-082 Joshi, Vivek Trustee & Et Al 890 Mockingbird Ln PALO ALTO 94306-3719 $105.00 66 4186 Old Adobe 175-20-092 Waters, Christopher J Trustee & Et 609 Arboleda Dr LOS ALTOS 94024 $201.00 67 3000 Alexis 182-35-035 Palo Alto Hills Golf And Country 3000 Alexis Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1303 $105.00 68 3130 Alexis 182-43-024 Von Clemm, Peter F And Jennifer J 3130 Alexis Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1305 $105.00 69 966 Laurel Glen 182-43-038 Jacobsen, Ruth E Trustee 966 Laurel Glen Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1322 $201.00 70 951 Laurel Glen 182-49-004 Bogerty, Sharon D 951 Laurel Glen Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1323 $105.00 71 930 Laurel Glen 182-54-006 Yeh Knoll Holding Inc A Barbados Ice House St CENTRAL HONG KONG $201.00 72 931 Laurel Glen 182-54-012 Sheth, Beerud Trustee & Et Al 931 Laurel Glen Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1323 $201.00 73 Laurel Glen 182-54-013 Ngai, Kenneth S Trustee & Et Al 3121 Bandera Dr PALO ALTO 94304-1341 $105.00 TOTAL $12,735.97 Report Date: 7/9/2025 (List Sorted by APN) Page 4 Attachment C City of Palo Alto Weed Abatement The City of Palo Alto contracts with the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management (SCCDAEM) to remove and destroy weeds in its efforts to mitigate potential fire hazards (as defined in Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 8.08). The entire weed abatement program is coordinated by the SCCDAEM. Abatement proceedings must follow a legally established course. This is and annual process with weed abatement occurring in late Spring. City of Palo Alto involvement is limited to the following 3 steps for City Council: 1) (Nov-Dec) City of Palo Alto declares Weeds a Nuisance to allow for County abatement and sets a later date (Jan-Feb) for a public hearing to review the Annual Commencement Report (list of “nuisance” parcels). 2) (Jan-Feb) Public Hearing to review the Annual Commencement Report and approve the County abatement proceedings. At this public hearing, property owners may appear and object to the proposed weed destruction or removal. After the hearing and consideration of any objections, the Council may sustain or overrule any or all objections. Upon adoption of the resolution confirming the weed abatement commencement report and ordering weed nuisances abated, the County will be asked to perform the abatement work to destroy and remove any weeds. 3) (July/August) Public Hearing to approve the invoices for the abatement work performed by the SCCDAEM. The Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management and the City of Palo Alto work together to protect our community from fire. The purpose of the Weed Abatement Program is to prevent fire hazards posed by vegetative overgrowth and the accumulation of combustible materials. Typically, a property is placed on the program list by a County Weed Abatement Inspector who identifies a potential fire hazard on the property. The Palo Alto Fire Department (PAFD) & Code Enforcement also report addresses of concern and forward (verified) complaints from residents to the SCCDAEM. Residents can report addresses of concern to POAFD, code enforcement, or directly to the County Weed Abatement Program. Santa Clara County program staff annually inspect “nuisance” parcels at the beginning of the fire season, which is typically April 30th for CPA parcels. The Weed Abatement program is entirely funded from fees charged to residents. All parcels on the list will be charged a basic inspection fee. If the parcel is not in compliance at the time of inspection, the property owner will be charged an additional failed inspection fee, and they will receive a final courtesy notice as a reminder to abate their weeds within 2 weeks. If the weeds are not abated by the property owner, the work will be completed by the County contractor. The property owner will pay the contractor’s fees plus a County administrative fee. All fees will be included in their property tax bill. Properties that meet and maintain the minimum fire safety standards will only be charged for the annual fee. These properties will be removed from the list after three years of compliance.