Council affirms emergency abatement at 335 N. Shasta, authorizes lien for costs

The Willows City Council approved a resolution confirming emergency summary abatement at 335 North Shasta Street, declaring the abatement costs a special assessment and authorizing staff to place the charge on the property tax roll if unpaid.

Fire Chief Nathan Monk explained the property had been red-tagged in December 2023 as an unsafe, grossly dilapidated structure under the municipal code. A large hackberry tree (approximately 60 feet tall and about 40 inches DBH) partially fell onto the street, sidewalk, neighboring house and the structure in May 2024. Fire and code staff arranged an emergency removal by Lalos Tree Service; Monk said the contractor cleared the remaining hazard approximately 48 hours after the storm and billed $10,800 for the tree service. Chief Monk also described staff time and emergency abatement work that generated additional charges; those administrative and abatement costs were included in an invoice sent to the property owner, whom staff identified as Mr. Bronner, via certified mail.

Chief Monk said the property owner did not request a formal public hearing within the 10-day appeal window after receiving notice, so staff treated the agenda item as discussion-and-action. The council opened and then closed the public hearing, and a councilmember moved to approve the resolution (with the corrected date of Feb. 7 for the deadline referenced in the resolution); another councilmember seconded. The council then adopted the resolution by roll-call vote and directed staff to place the confirmed abatement costs as a special assessment on the tax roll if they remain unpaid.

Why it matters: The action formalizes the city's recovery of emergency abatement costs for a public-safety hazard and creates a tax-roll special assessment that follows the property. The record confirms notice was provided and that the owner did not file a timely appeal.