CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: May 17, 2022
Subject
Consider setting a hearing date of June 21, 2022 to declare brush with potential fire hazard a public nuisance and for objections to proposed removal through the Cupertino Brush Abatement Program (Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area); and consider adopting a resolution declaring properties as having potential fire hazards from brush and authorizing removal.
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No 22-___ declaring properties as having potential fire hazards from brush; and set a hearing date of June 21, 2022 to declare brush with potential fire hazard a public nuisance and to hear objections to proposed removal.
Discussion
The Cupertino Brush Abatement Program is a separate program from the County Weed Abatement Program that works to protect the City from wildfire risk by reducing potential fuel, such as brush, for hillside areas. This program is managed by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Cupertino Municipal Code Section 16.40.200 requires property owners in the locally adopted Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area (WUI) to maintain effective defensible space by removing brush, flammable vegetation and combustible growth when required by the fire code official due to steepness of terrain or other conditions. All properties in the WUI area are subject to the requirements of the Brush Abatement Program. It also authorizes the County to remove the brush if the property owner does not and to recover the cost of abatement.
In February of each year, homeowners are reminded that they must remove native brush and vegetation from around their home to create defensible space. The brush abatement program entails inspections of hillside properties by fire crews beginning early April each year. If properties are found to not be in compliance with the regulations found in the California Fire Code relative to vegetation clearance, the property owners are given notice of the violation. If compliance is still not achieved by approximately the end of June each year, a contractor is authorized to perform the necessary work. The costs associated with the abatement work are then placed on the property tax bill for that parcel.
Sustainability Impact
None.
Fiscal Impact
None.
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Prepared by: Kirsten Squarcia, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Dianne Thompson, Assistant City Manager
Attachments:
A - Draft Resolution
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