Agenda Item #16.1
For Council Meeting of: July 28, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL LOWENTHAL, DIVISION CHIEF FIRE MARSHAL, FIRE DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: SANTA ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM REPORT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Fire Department recommends 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. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department seeks Council confirmation of the itemized report of unpaid costs associated with the 2025 Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program. Upon confirmation, the unpaid charges will be placed on the County tax roll as special assessments against the respective parcels.
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #2 - Invest in the Development and Maintenance of the City's Infrastructure by ensuring compliance with the City’s Weed Abatement Ordinance and fire prevention.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
Santa Rosa City Code 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.
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 2025 season, 201 parcels were found to be in violation after the re-inspection. Of those parcels 17 required abatement by the Fire Department. As of June 30, 2026, there are 33 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 $15,373.02.
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 $181.00 for 2025, Fiscal Year 2025-26 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 recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the 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 recommended 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 recommended action 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 14, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Weed Abatement Summary
Resolution / Exhibit A – Unpaid Weed Abatement Report
PRESENTER(S)
Jared McDaniel, Assistant Fire Marshal
SANTA ROSA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM REPORT – PUBLIC HEARING - PAGE 2 OF 3