The hazardous vegetation (weed) management program is annually administered by the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal. Last week, the city council approved a resolution that in effect authorized the fire marshal's office to proceed with weed abatement in April of this year.

Previously, the county sent notices to 117 property owners in Saratoga informing them that their property had been identified as potentially having hazardous vegetation or debris. The notice further stated that such vegetation or debris had to be cleared by April 1, after which time someone from the fire marshal's office would inspect the site. If the property owner has not followed instructions, the county will proceed to remove the weed or debris for them, with the cost assessed to the owner's property tax.

About one-third of residents participating in the program choose to have the county perform the weed abatement for them, said Assistant Fire Marshal Judy Saunders.

Having the county remove the hazardous vegetation or debris instead of taking care of it oneself can come at a substantially higher price. According to Saunders, the county will charge property owners the labor of weed abatement, plus an administrative fee that is 150 percent above the labor cost.

When asked by the council why this information was not mentioned in the notice, Saunders said that the county had never done so but that it is possible to include it in future notices.

The notice sent to residents this year mentioned the amount property owners would be charged overall, but it did not indicate what percentage of that money went toward administrative costs. Since the county had already noted the overall cost to residents, it did not occur to them that the breakdown in fees was necessary, Saunders said after the meeting.

Before approving the program 4-0, with Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith absent, the council told Saunders that in the future, the breakdown in cost should be disclosed in the notice sent to the public.

"We need to be more forthright in the letter," said Councilman Norman Kline.

Because the county fire marshal is contracted through the city for this weed abatement program, the city council has the authority to remove the name of any of the property owners listed, Saunders said. Additionally, she said, it is the city council that approved the fee that the county charges to property owners.