Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: February 14, 2023
SUBJECT: PROPOSED 2023 LOS ANGELES COUNTY WEED ABATEMENT
AND BRUSH CLEARANCE PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Michael Villegas
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council discuss the proposed Los Angeles County Weed Abatement and Brush Clearance Program for calendar year 2023 and provide direction to City staff.
BACKGROUND
On January 10, 2023, the Los Angeles County (County) Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted a resolution brought forth by the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (District) and the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures (ACWM) which declared dangerous or noxious weeds, brush, combustible growth, rubbish, etc., on designated properties in the County a seasonal and recurrent public nuisance. The parcels listed in the resolution were included because:
• They were identified by fire hazard severity zone criteria or found by inspection to contain vegetation or potentially combustible growth which, when dry, would become a fire hazard to adjacent homes, if not abated.
• The size, location and topography of the property create the potential for the growth of weeds and brush which, when dry, would become a fire hazard to adjacent homes, if not abated.
• The vegetation or potentially combustible growth is in close proximity to a structure preventing firefighters from defending the structure in the event of a fire or endangers their efforts to protect neighboring structures. In addition, a fire originating at the structure could readily spread beyond the structure and onto adjacent land, placing public land, infrastructure, and other homes at risk.
• The vegetation or potentially combustible growth is in close enough proximity to a road to jeopardize safe evacuation from the area by residents as well as impede safe ingress/egress by firefighters attempting to respond to a fire or other emergency.
The resolution also identifies other items such as tumbleweeds and accumulated piles of rubbish, refuse, and trash, among others alike, as public nuisances.
As part of the item, the District and ACWM established two Hearings of Protest before the Weed Abatement and Brush Clearance Referees, scheduled as listed below.
• February 15, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., in the ACWM’s Conference Room, located at 12300 Lower Azusa Road, Arcadia; and
• February 16, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., in the Antelope Valley at 335 East Avenue K-10, Lancaster.
In addition, the public hearing for the approval of the Weed Abatement and Brush Clearance Program (Program) was set for March 14, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles.
The concern with the proposed Program is the impact to Santa Clarita residents. The parcels identified by the County are homes that are located in high or very high fire hazard severity zones as defined by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire), which encompasses a significant portion of Santa Clarita. While the City, unfortunately, has a history of fires, many of the parcels identified by CAL Fire are single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums that are in developed areas, away from hillsides and other areas that pose higher likelihoods for fires, but are still subject to the Program. Based on the parameters of the Program, residents will be assessed a $100 inspection fee for inspections conducted by the County Fire Department in calendar year 2023, with the fee increasing to $151 in 2024.
Residents do not have the option to opt in or out of this Program and costs associated with these efforts will be recovered through direct assessments on the property taxes of individual properties. The District will assess fines directly to private property owners of declared improved properties if they fail to comply with two official notices to abate hazards that constitute a public nuisance. According to the County’s staff report, in addition to the inspection fee, the County of Los Angeles Auditor-Controller has approved abatement enforcement costs of $908 for improved parcels that require enforcement actions beyond a second inspection. Further, if a private property owner is deemed non-complaint, the property owner would be subject to a $500 administrative fine.
If the Program is approved by the Board on March 14, the ACWM and the District will take the necessary actions to cause the public nuisances to be abated. To achieve fire safety, the ACWM will focus primarily on the unimproved (vacant) properties, and the District will focus its efforts on improved properties. If approved, brush clearance inspections are scheduled to begin April 1 in the Antelope Valley, June 1 in the Coastal Area, and May 1 in all other areas.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
No alternative action is applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS
Weed Abatement and Brush Clearance County Resolution (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)