HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9292INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 9292
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 17, 2010
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SUBJECT: TALL GRASS ABATEMENT UPDATE
The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on tall grass and weed abatement program
along rights of way (ROWs) and on private property conducted by the Code Compliance and the Parks
and Community Services Departments.
Right of Way Mowing
As part of balancing the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, the City eliminated all right of way mowing (areas
between the edge of the road and the private property line) except for medians and hazardous
intersections resulting in a savings of $283,827. Recognizing the impact this would have on the
community, the City used the media, internet, e-mail, outreach and other public education tools to
communicate these reductions and request the assistance of adjacent property owners to mow these
areas as stated in the City Code that imposes a duty on owners to mow the adjacent right of way. In
addition, the Code Compliance Department mailed warning letters to adjacent property owners.
The public education and warning letters did have a positive impact and many of the areas that were once
mowed by the City have been mowed by private property owners. Even so, tall grass continues to be a
problem in many areas because of practical difficulties, e.g., mowing behind a back fence where there is
no gate, out of state property owners, unresponsive tenants and owners, bankruptcies, etc.
In the case of unresponsive owners, while there is an ordinance that imposes a duty on owners to mow
the adjacent ROW, enforcement of the ordinance requires staff and funding for certified mail, contractor
mowing, billing, appeals and the placement of a lien. Since there was no funding available for staff and
contractors, the Code Compliance Department had limited capability to enforce this ordinance.
Given the practical difficulties and the impact of tall grass on the community, the City Manager has
recommended that right of way mowing be reinstated in Fiscal Year 2011. A total of $573,099 is included
in the proposed budget which would be sufficient to maintain ROWs including edging and trimming in
urban and developing areas on 28 day intervals during the growing season. This includes ROWs
previously maintained, ROW complaints received and allows limited future ROWs to be added.
Even so, PACS and Code Compliance will continue to work together on public education and holding
private property owners accountable for mowing easily accessible front and side yard areas. If owners do
not respond, PACS will have the funding to mow and violations will be enforced by citation. Between now
and October 1, 2010, PACS will work on the most severe areas incurring an estimated cost of $50,000
and shortly after October 1st, they will work on a city wide mowing project.
Private Property Tall Grass Abatement
In Fiscal Year 2010, private property tall grass abatement was reduced from six to four mows per year. As
a result, service levels were adjusted; abatement started at 18" instead of 12" and re -mows were
scheduled every 45 days instead of 21. As a result, tall grass has been present for a longer period of
time; however, it does eventually get mowed. The budget re- estimates for FY 2010 predict that even with
this mowing schedule, the Code Compliance Department will be over budget by approximately $125,000
because of the wetter weather /longer grow season this year. The City Manager's recommended budget
for FY 2011 includes an additional reduction from four to two mows per year. The additional cost to
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH. TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9292
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 17, 2010
T` "�b Page 2 of 2
a
r SUBJECT: TALL GRASS ABATEMENT UPDATE
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maintain mowing at the current 2010 level (four mows) would be $372,312 and the cost to reinstate
mowing to the 2009 level (six mows) would be $572,000.
Tax Foreclosed Private Property Tall Grass Abatement
In Fiscal Year 2010, tax foreclosed private property tall grass abatement was reduced from 28 day
mowing intervals to 35 days. Sufficient funding is recommended in the FY 2011 budget to continue the
existing schedule and maintain the status quo.
Should you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Richard Zavala, Director, Parks
and Community Services Department at 817.392.5704, Brandon Bennett, Director, Code Compliance
Department at 817.392.6322 or Charles W. Daniels, Assistant City Manager at 817.392.6575.
Dale A. Fissele , P. E.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS