The council voted unanimously Jan. 3 to continue participation in the Santa Clara County Agriculture Department's Hazardous Vegetation Management Program.

Under the terms of the program, property owners are notified that any potential fire hazards from weeds or combustible debris must be removed by April 1. If a county inspection shows that weeds and debris remain at certain properties, the owners are once again notified that they must be removed. If it is not, the county will perform the abatement work and add the work charges to the parcel's property tax fees.

Property owners may also request that the county perform the work, again with the charges added to property taxes.

Though there was little discussion by the council, two residents told the council the deadline seemed a bit too soon.

Stacia Street resident Bob Balcomb said he has abided by the program regulations for years, and has found the county easy to work with.

"I do have a problem with the April 1 date," he said. "By June, the weeds are going to be waist-high again."

Judy Marlin of Brocastle Way said she agreed with Balcomb's evaluation.

"If the date is April 1, that's kind of a hardship," she said.

Agriculture Department representative Debbie Craver said there is some flexibility in the date. Though the deadline is April 1, residents may contact the county if the weeds are still growing rapidly at that time and they feel additional work would be required not long afterward. But unless 2005 is especially rainy, she said spring is the ideal time to start clearing the weeds before fire season.

"In the case of a dry year like last year, things start getting dry by the end of April," she said.

Second-term Councilman Joe Pirzynski said he had seen the program implemented enough times that he was comfortable with the dates and wording in the resolution presented to the council. The program was formerly administered by the county fire marshal's office.

"I've been consistently impressed with the flexibility of the fire department," Pirzynski said.

For more information about the weed abatement requirements, contact the Santa Clara County Hazardous Vegetation Management Program at 408.282.3145.