ITEM 6-B

Council Meeting:  July 14, 1991         Santa Monica, California

TO:       Mayor and City Council

FROM:     City Staff

SUBJECT:  Confirmation of the 1992 Weed and Rubbish Abatement
          Assessment Roll

Introduction

This report requests the City Council to confirm  the  costs  and
assessments  resulting  from the City of Santa Monica's 1992 Weed
and Rubbish Abatement Program.

Background

On February 11, 1992, the City Council adopted Resolution  Number
8351 (C.C.S.), in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 13,
Title 4 of the California Government Code,  declaring  weeds  and
rubbish  growing  and/or accumulating on private property to be a
public nuisance.  The City Council set April  14,  1992,  as  the
date of the public hearing.  Each affected parcel was posted with
a notice announcing the date,  hour,  and  place  of  the  public
hearing in accordance with state law.  In addition, each property
owner was mailed a notice of the public hearing.

A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the  Evening  Outlook  on
January  30  and  31,  and  on  February  1  and  3,  1992.   Bid
specifications were prepared and mailed to four  contractors  and
the  Notice  Inviting  Bids  was mailed to fourteen disadvantaged
business enterprise (DBE) contractors.  Two  complete  bids  were
received and opened publicly on March 4, 1992 at 3:00 p.m. by the
City Clerk.

The public hearing  was  held  April  14,  1992.   Following  the
hearing,  abatement  of the weeds and rubbish was ordered and the
abatement contract in the  amount  of  $39,700,  was  awarded  to
Gary's  Lot  Cleaning.   The work was performed from May to June,
1992.  The actual cost under this contract for work performed  on
both  private  and City-owned lots was $44,539.46; $35,655.42 for
privately-owned, and $8,884.04 for City-owned  lots.   The  total
assessment  to  property owners is $39,934.07 and includes actual
abatement costs of all privately-owned lots  as  well  as  a  12%
administrative  charge  per  lot  to  cover  costs of inspection,
supplies, certified mailing of notices,  and  contract/assessment
administration.

Under the California Government Code,  property  owners  are  not
billed  by  the  City  for  the  work.  The cost is placed on the
property owner's annual tax bill by means of the assessment roll,
a copy of which is attached to this report.

The assessment roll must be confirmed and received by the  County
Assessor's  office  no  later  than  August  1,  1992,  if  these
assessments are to be included in the 1992-93 property tax bills.

Budget/Financial Impact

City financial obligations for 1992 weed  and  rubbish  abatement
work completed total $44,539.46.  The initial contract represents
an estimate of time and material necessary to complete  the  1992
abatement  program.   This estimate was made months in advance of
the onset of abatement work and was based on the number  of  lots
identified  for  abatement.   Fewer property owners cleared their
lots than was anticipated and the increase  in  rain  caused  the
total  cost  of  completed  contractual  work to be more than the
original amount  appropriated.    In  order  to  fund  the  final
invoice  amount  of  $44,539.46,  City  Council must increase the
contingency amount by $869.46 for  a  new  contingency  total  of
$4,839.46.   Funds  are  available  in  FY 1991-92 Weed Abatement
Account 01-500-421-00000-6642-00000.

Total revenue of $39,934.07 will be  collected  and  credited  to
General  Fund  Revenue  Account  01-500-481-00000-0130-10000 upon
receipt from the County Tax Assessor.

Recommendations

Staff recommends that the City Council:
1.  Confirm  by  motion  the  1992  Weed  and  Rubbish  Abatement
    Assessment Roll.
2.  Approve  increase  of the contingency amount by $869.46 for a
    new contingency total of $4,839.46.

Prepared by:  Stan Scholl, Director of General Services
              James Buell, Maintenance Manager
              Richard Valeriano, Street Inspector

Attachment:   City of Santa Monica 1992 Weed and Rubbish
              Abatement Assessment Roll