MEETING DATE: 4/12/2022
DEPARTMENT: COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Ray Espinosa
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Dulce Alonso
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 119
SUBJECT:
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE – R. ESPINOSA
Receive informational presentation from City of Hollister Fire Department on weed abatement ordinance and, if desired, provide staff direction on creating an ordinance for weed abatement and possible abatement of other types of fire hazards.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 119
AGENDA SECTION:
REGULAR AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
The objective of the Exterior Hazard Control Weed Abatement Program is to eliminate the incidence of grass and rubbish fires where possible and to reduce the severity of such fires where they cannot be eliminated. San Benito County encompasses 1,400 square miles for the entire County, and there are 11,022 parcels/lots.
Every year, fires threaten homes and properties due to unnecessary combustible debris and vegetation. Every property owner’s responsibility is to eliminate these fire hazards on their property that may endanger their neighbors and the community at large. Every property owner, regardless of type – including residential, commercial, and parcels of land – is ultimately responsible for managing their vegetation to meet Fire Department requirements.
“Weeds” mean all wild plants growing on streets or private property in this jurisdiction. These include sagebrush, chaparral (chamise, coyote brush, greasewood, broom brush, buckwheat), dry grass, stubble, brush, and litter, or other flammable materials which are capable of being ignited and endangering public safety by creating a fire hazard.
Defensible Space is an area around a building in which vegetation, debris, and other combustible fuels have been treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of fire to and from the building.
The Hollister Fire Department has established Minimum Standards for Weed Abatement and Defensible Space guidelines.
Property owners are responsible for verifying that abatement satisfies Fire Department requirements. For more information regarding Exterior Hazard Control Weed Abatement Program, contact the Hollister Fire Department Prevention Bureau at (831) 636-4325.
The most important person protecting houses and structures from wildfires is not a firefighter but the property owner. The most critical is that the property owner takes action before the wildfire occurs. Everyone needs to know about defensible Space.
Potential FINANCIAL IMPACT: $7,500 – cost to mail Ordinance and Guidelines to property owners (11,002 parcels) if and when approved.
RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM:
No
CONTRACT NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM:
No
CONTRACT AND RFP HISTORY:
N/A
LAST CONTRACT AMOUNT OR N/A:
N/A
STATE IF THIS IS A NEW CONTRACT/ HOW MANY PAST AMENDED CONTRACTS/ OR N/A:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
BUDGETED:
No
Budget Adjustment Needed: No
Unfunded Mandate (Is this a mandate not funded by the State): No