(323) 881-2401

January 7, 1999

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Supervisors:

SUBJECT: RESOLUTION DECLARING HAZARDOUS BRUSH, DRY GRASS, WEEDS, COMBUSTIBLE GROWTH OR FLAMMABLE VEGETATION TO INCLUDE NATIVE AND ORNAMENTAL VEGETATION IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY A SEASONAL AND RECURRING NUISANCE

(ALL DISTRICTS)

(3-VOTES)

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD:

1. Adopt attached resolution at your meeting on January 19, 1999, establishing the following dates and time for Hearing of Protests by the Brush Clearance Referee: February 17, 1999, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room of the Agricultural Commissioner, located at 3400 La Madera Avenue, El Monte, and February 18, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. in the Antelope Valley at 335A E. Avenue K-6, Lancaster.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
January 7, 1999
Page 2

PURPOSE OF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Enclosed is the annually required Resolution declaring hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation to include native and ornamental vegetation in Los Angeles County a seasonal and recurring nuisance. Improved properties will be inspected by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department to verify that said hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth have attained such a growth as to become a fire menace to said parcel or adjacent improved properties.

JUSTIFICATION:

Improved properties declared to be potential or existing hazards found by inspection to be overgrown with weeds and brush.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
January 7, 1999
Page 3

FISCAL IMPACT:

There are no net County costs.

FINANCING:

The County of Los Angeles Fire Department will assess charges directly to private property owners of improved declared parcels if they fail to comply with a second official notice to abate hazards that constitute a public nuisance as identified by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department. Private property owners of improved declared parcels receive their first notice via the Fire Department's "Improved Property Annual Brush Clearance Notice" which is mailed on the first Monday in February. Their second notice is given via the Fire Department's "Official Inspection Report" which is issued when the local fire station conducts its annual inspection of the property. Costs for abatement enforcement services beyond the annual inspection program are recovered by assessments and will include full overhead charges. Expected revenue based on 574 noncompliant parcels in 1998 is $132,594.

FACTS AND PROVISIONS/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

Notices to destroy hazardous brush, dry grass, weeds, combustible growth or flammable vegetation to include native and ornamental vegetation will be mailed to the owners of improved declared properties in the form of a Declaration Card as required in Section 14892 of the California Health and Safety Code upon receipt of your approval. An affidavit of mailing will be returned to you when the mailing of notices as provided in Section 14896 of the Health and Safety Code has been completed.

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
January 7, 1999
Page 4

IMPACTS ON CURRENT SERVICES:

There are no impacts on current services.

Very truly yours,

P. MICHAEL FREEMAN

PMF:lc

Enclosures

c: Chief Administrative Officer

bc: Freeman

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