Agenda Item #16.1
For Council Meeting of: July 22, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL LOWENTHAL, DIVISION CHIEF FIRE MARSHAL
SUBJECT: SANTA ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM REPORT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Santa Rosa Fire Department that the Council, by resolution, confirm the itemized report of the Fire Department of the cost of weed and rubbish abatement as provided for in Sections 9-08.020, 9-08.080, and 9-08.090 of the Santa Rosa City Code.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Santa Rosa requires that residents comply with Chapter 9.08 of the Santa Rosa City Code, to abate and maintain their parcels throughout the declared fire season.
BACKGROUND
Santa Rosa City Code section, Chapter 9.08 requires a public hearing to hear objections to the cost of weeds and/or rubbish abatement. The City Council grants or overrules such protests.
The City Council, by resolution, may confirm the itemized report of the costs of abatement.
The City Council authorizes the Santa Rosa Fire Department, County Auditor and Tax Collector to enact a special assessment as a lien upon respective parcels subject to the Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
The Santa Rosa City Code requires the abatement of weeds and rubbish as a public nuisance.
The Santa Rosa Fire Department, as directed by the City Council, has abated weeds and rubbish within the City of Santa Rosa. In the 2024 season, 84 parcels were found to be in violation after the re-inspection. Of those parcels 21 required abatement by the Fire Department. As of June 30, 2025, there are 41 parcels which have unpaid balances for Fire Department related expenses, including violation notices, additional inspections and physical abatement work.
The total unpaid balance without Administrative Fees is $16,795.01 Program recovery and physical abatement charges are billed to property owners that fail to abate their property by the abatement notice due date. Program costs, based on an hourly rate of $174.00 for 2024, FY24/25 include the direct cost for the contractor’s abatement, inspections, responding to complaints, and notification of the contractor to perform physical abatement and program support costs.
Following the public hearing and upon confirmation of the itemized report of the costs of abatement by Council, any charges left unpaid will automatically become a lien upon the respective parcels. An administrative charge (Administrative Fee) of $2.00 plus 1.0102% of the assessment amount are included in the lien. The Administrative Fee is to offset the cost of processing the lien and the 1.0102% covers the lost revenue on City funds unavailable for investment until the Assessor forwards payment to the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fees invoiced by the Weed Abatement program will be added to the County tax roll. All fees, including an additional Administration fee, will be reimbursed to the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
A Notice of Public Hearing was published on July 11, 2025.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Weed Abatement Summary
Resolution / Exhibit A – Unpaid Weed Abatement Report
PRESENTERS
Kemplen Robbins, Interim Division Chief Fire Marshal
SANTA ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM REPORT – PUBLIC HEARING - PAGE 3 OF 3