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BACKGROUND <br /> In the City of Pleasanton, LPFD combats fire hazards resulting from an overgrowth of <br /> grasses, weeds, shrubbery and trees through the LPFD Weed Abatement Program. <br /> This program has been established in compliance with Government Code sections <br /> 39560-39588. The LPFD Weed Abatement Program's goal is to establish a fire-safe <br /> community through property owners' voluntary compliance with the LPFD's weed <br /> abatement standards. <br /> Weed abatement involves the following steps, the first of which is addressed in the <br /> resolution that accompanies this agenda report: <br /> 1. Inspection, Declaration of Nuisance, and Notification. Identify parcels that are or <br /> may become hazardous due to an overgrowth of grasses, weeds, shrubbery and <br /> trees and/or the presence of dirt, refuse and rubbish. Identified properties are <br /> presented to the City Council. The City Council reviews the list and declares that <br /> some or all of the parcels are public nuisances, requiring abatement. The City <br /> Council may also find and declare that weeds on specified parcels are seasonal <br /> and recurrent nuisances. Property owners are given notice to abate the nuisance <br /> on their properties. <br /> 2. Protest Hearing and Order to Abate. The City Council hears and considers all <br /> objections to the abatement proposed and then orders abatement by a <br /> contractor. <br /> 3. Re-inspection and Abatement. Fire inspectors inspect the parcels on the <br /> abatement list. If a hazard exists and abatement has not occurred by the June <br /> 30, 2020 deadline set by the LPFD, the contractor abates the weeds. <br /> 4. Tax Lien. The property owners are sent an invoice for the abatement costs, plus <br /> a 100 percent administrative charge and, if related litigation is required, all <br /> attorneys' fees, expenses and costs. Any amount not paid by the property <br /> owners is placed as a special assessment on the property owner's tax bill. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Staff recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution. Upon adoption, LPFD <br /> will notify all listed property owners (see Exhibit A of the attached resolution) of the <br /> public hearing set for May 19, 2020 as well as the June 30, 2020 deadline to complete <br /> the abatement. The information sent to the property owners will note that during the <br /> current Shelter in Place Order, these prevention measures are considered an essential <br /> service and contractors must be engaged to complete the required abatement. <br /> Submitted by: Fiscal Review: Approved y: <br /> 7d77, /114111 <br /> Joe Testa Tina Olson Nelson Fialho <br /> Acting Fire Chief Director of Finance City Manager <br /> Page 2 <br />