keep the community engaged, through consistent promotional and educational campaign(s) that ensures clear communication with residents and business owners about the importance of blight abatement, while also encouraging their involvement.
The COVID-19 pandemic created substantial challenges for the City’s blight prevention and abatement efforts. Staggered work schedules and the need for safety gear, including personal protective suits, masks, gloves, and goggles, were necessary to protect staff from both the virus and field hazards. Despite these concerns, the Blight Abatement team continued their regular duties, such as park cleaning and addressing illegal encampments. The quieter environment, due to fewer people in parks, allowed the team to focus on projects and repairs.
The passage of Measure H in November 2022 significantly strengthened the City’s Blight Abatement efforts by adding staff and abatement teams within the Parks Department, Solid Waste Division, and Police Department. This additional support has alleviated pressure on Parks staff, enabling them to focus more on maintaining parks. As a result, response times have improved, and parks are now being cleaned more efficiently and regularly. Going forward, increased resources for equipment upgrades and enhanced collaboration with other departments will further improve response times and overall efficiency.
The updated, two-year strategy, points to various community events and programs such as the Mattress Recycling Center, Multi-Family Bulky Item Program, and Drive Up Drop Off Events— recently launched or expanded—providing residents with no-cost disposal options to reduce illegal dumping. Our goal is to use this strategy to not only educate the public about all the ways they can play a role in abating blight but also shed light on our roles, responsibilities, goals, and strategies as a City to combat blight. This is an important opportunity to gather and examine meaningful data, identify trends, and evaluate future opportunities to leverage technology and help eliminate blight throughout Modesto. The intent moving forward is to update the strategy every two years to coincide with the budget process.
For purposes of this strategy blight shall be defined as trash, debris, and other items that have been discarded improperly along roadsides, waterways, and other areas that are uncontained or unkempt. Illegal dumping shall be defined as bulky items/garbage piles on public or private property, which is considered to be an extreme litter or violation of a litter-related crime. Litter and illegal dumping both contribute to the overall definition of blight, and they are a complex social phenomenon with different meanings based on the effects of larger social dynamics such as poverty, and other social norms.
Over the next two years, several key goals and strategies will guide our blight abatement efforts.
These include reducing tagging and the frequency of camp cleanups, while increasing public use and enjoyment of parks. We also aim to refine relevant ordinances to improve enforcement capabilities and mitigate urban blight more effectively. A critical priority is to bolster staffing and resources, ensuring quicker response times to illegal dumping incidents. Collaboration remains a driving force—both through partnerships with other cities and organizations, and through strong interdepartmental coordination. Looking ahead, we plan to enhance the engagement and impact of the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee by filling vacancies, improving attendance, and broadening service opportunities.
In 2025, we proudly launched the Modesto Mo’Beautiful Campaign, a community-driven initiative designed to unite residents and city departments in the shared mission to reduce blight and promote beautification. This campaign represents the core foundation of our blight abatement strategy. To learn more about this campaign we have set up a webpage on the city website at www.modestogov.com/3180/MoBeautiful which provides the community information on initiative, clean ups, partnerships, and city programs etc.
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Safety & Communities Committee, May 12, 2025
Adoption of the 2025-2027 Blight Abatement Strategy
FISCAL IMPACT:
While the adoption of the strategy itself will not have a fiscal impact, future implementation of components of the strategy may have fiscal impacts. Implementation of those strategies will be brought forward to Council through future Agenda Item actions or through the budget process.
RECOMMENDED COMMITTEE ACTION:
Staff Recommendations:
Motion recommending the 2025-2027 Blight Abatement Strategy for adoption and forwarding to Council for approval.
Approved by:
Allison Van Guilder, Deputy City Manager
Joseph P. Lopez, City Manager
Attachments:
1. 2025-2027 Blight Abatement Strategy
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Table of
CONTENTS
Introduction/Background
Our Story
Partnerships
01 02
03 07 Blight Abatement Advisory Committee
08 Events & Community Engagement Programs
Department Roles & Responsibilities
Fines Procedures
Abatement Data
10 14
15 22 Illegal Dumping Information
Future Goals & Strategy
Conclusion
23 24
25 Glossary
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
Introduction
The Blight Abatement Strategy is designed to consistently evaluate the City programs to mitigate blight, identify immediate opportunities for efficiency and improvement, determine potential partnerships while strengthening others, and create an initiative that is practical and fiscally sustainable.
This is an important opportunity to gather and examine meaningful data, identify trends, and evaluate future opportunities to leverage technology and help eliminate blight throughout Modesto. For purposes of this strategy blight shall be defined as trash, debris, and other items that have been discarded improperly along roadsides, waterways, and other areas that are uncontained or unkempt.
Illegal dumping shall be defined as bulky items/garbage piles on public or private property, which is considered to be an extreme litter or violation of a litter-related crime. Litter and illegal dumping both contribute to the overall definition of blight, and they are a complex social phenomenon with different meanings based on the effects of larger social dynamics such as poverty, and other social norms.
Background
In a 2019 Citywide community survey, blight was identified as one of the most pressing concerns among Modesto residents. Since then, the City has been diligently working to address concerns raised in the community survey through the goals and strategies outlined in the 2020-2025 Blight Abatement Strategy.
Achieving the progress made over the past five years has required the collaboration of various departments and divisions, including the Solid Waste Division, Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Department (PRN), Modesto Police Department (MPD), Fire Department, as well as partnerships with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resource Volunteer Program, Operation 9-2-99, and the Dry Creek Trails Coalition. While the past five years have brought significant challenges, particularly with the pandemic, they also created new opportunities, such as the passage of Measure H, which has further supported our blight abatement efforts.
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Purpose
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
Our Story thus far...
In October 2020, the City officially established the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee with the goal of providing recommendations for program improvements, identifying funding opportunities, and developing strategies to increase volunteer participation.
Additionally, City staff delivers quarterly updates to the Safety and Communities Committee to inform them regarding the progress of the Blight Abatement Strategy. To keep the community engaged, the City employs a consistent promotional and educational campaign that ensures clear communication with residents and business owners about the importance of blight abatement, while also encouraging their involvement.
The COVID-19 pandemic created substantial challenges for the City’s blight prevention and abatement efforts. Staggered work schedules and the need for safety gear, including personal protective suits, masks, gloves, and goggles, were necessary to protect staff from both the virus and field hazards. Despite these concerns, the Blight Abatement team continued their regular duties, such as park cleaning and camp removal. The quieter environment, due to fewer people in parks, allowed the team to focus on projects and repairs. However, the pandemic also resulted in increased illegal dumping, staffing shortages, and delays in forming the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee. Virtual meetings further hindered the Committee's ability to maintain active participation.
The passage of Measure H in November 2022 significantly strengthened the City’s Blight Abatement efforts by adding staff and abatement teams within the Parks Department, Solid Waste Division, and Police Department. This additional support has alleviated pressure on Parks staff, enabling them to focus more on maintaining parks. As a result, response times have improved, and parks are now being cleared more efficiently and regularly. Going forward, increased resources for equipment upgrades and enhanced collaboration with other departments will further improve response times and overall efficiency.
To address these ongoing challenges, the City plans to continue hosting Drive Up Drop Off events, funded through the legislative priority budget and CalTrans, while also updating the municipal code to implement stricter penalties for violations. The Public Works Blight Abatement Teams will expand by converting part-time positions to full-time roles and enhancing weed abatement efforts, with support from Measure H funding. Programs such as the Mattress Recycling Center, Multi-Family Bulky Item Program, and Drive Up Drop Off Events—recently launched or expanded—provide residents with no-cost disposal options to reduce illegal dumping. The Blight Abatement Teams, funded by ARPA and Measure H, will persist in clearing illegal dumping sites while remaining focused on offering convenient disposal options and swiftly addressing violations through code enforcement.
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
By working together, programs will have an opportunity to thrive instead of just surviving. Engaging our community, schools and internal partners to become more efficient and coordinated to enhance our City. Listed ahead are partnerships or affiliations that the City is a part of to help further our efforts to combat blight.
Partnerships
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Love Modesto, a program within loveourcities.org, leads community wide volunteerism and initiatives among neighborhoods, schools and kids. At these community-wide volunteer days, volunteers engage in a variety of projects, including appreciating public servants, visiting convalescent homes, donating blood, building a house with Habitat for Humanity, and working in City parks and schools, among other opportunities. Love Modesto primarily leads a community clean up initiative along with other associated activities annually on held on the last Saturday of April.
The Dry Creek Trails Coalition is a community group
comprised of volunteers who use and enjoy the park, and the five miles of trail located along Dry Creek in Modesto.
They meet regularly to perform cleanups and partner with Love Modesto each year. The mission of the group is to
preserve and advocate for the Dry Creek Regional Park
trails for all trail users to enjoy. The focus of the group’s projects is to clean up the creek and the surrounding
riparian habitat. The group works closely with their public and private partners to ensure that the park and trails system is clean, crime free, and family friendly.
DRY CREEK TRAILS COALITION
“Don’t PASS it up,
PICK it up!”
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DOWNTOWN MODESTO PARTNERSHIP (DOMO)
The mission of the Downtown Modesto (DOMO)
Partnership is to create a vibrant community through
activities and partnerships designed to improve the
quantity and quality of experiences in downtown
Modesto. The work of DOMO also aims to eliminate
blight in the downtown region using their downtown
experience engineers that are regularly picking up litter and removing tagging from the downtown region.
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The Downtown Streets Team (DST) volunteer program invites individuals experiencing homelessness to join DST to work collaboratively on beautification projects in the downtown and other targeted areas in Modesto.
The volunteer model aims to provide a daily meaningful activity, personal and professional growth, work experience, and a sense of belonging in the larger community. By raising their hand and saying, “I want to make a change,” team members have access to case management and employment services to reach their self-defined goals.
DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM
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Operation 9-2-99 seeks to reclaim, rehabilitate, and restore the area along the Tuolumne River in Modesto, from the 9th Street Bridge to Highway 99.
The initiative focuses on removing trash, tires, shopping carts, and abandoned camps to transform this blighted area into a public space and riparian river habitat that the community can take pride in and safely enjoy.
Operation 9-2-99 works to achieve these objectives by organizing volunteers to conduct regular clean- ups of the Tuolumne River area.
OPERATION 9-2-99
Dry Creek Trails Coalition and Operation 9-2-99 are projects that are supported and organized by members of the Modesto Outdoor Recreation Alliance www.modestooutdoor.org
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Every Effort Counts in Making...
"Modesto Mo’Beautiful" is a rallying cry for residents to unite, take pride in their City, and tackle blight issues through community empowerment and collective action. In response to increasing illegal dumping and persistent blight across the City, Modesto brought together internal departments, community members, partner agencies, and other stakeholders to create the Blight Abatement Strategy, which ultimately led to the launch of the Modesto Mo’Beautiful campaign. The initiative strives to make Modesto cleaner, safer, and more beautiful by encouraging collaboration and instilling pride among its residents.
The primary goal is to revitalize community engagement and foster a renewed sense of responsibility for the upkeep and enhancement of the City and its neighborhoods. The campaign seeks to unite groups with a shared mission of fostering collaboration and working toward a common goal. Its purpose is to inspire a shift in public behavior, cultivate civic pride, and spark a movement dedicated to preserving the beauty of Modesto.
The campaign is made up of three phases:
Phase II: Community Education and Engagement
Educate residents about blight prevention and mitigation strategies, while encouraging them to participate in clean-up efforts across the community.
Phase I: Campaign Launch and Awareness
Introduce the "Modesto Mo’Beautiful" campaign to residents and begin raising awareness about blight issues and the importance of community involvement.
Phase III: Sustained Action and Impact
Maintain the momentum of the campaign by reaffirming positive behavior changes. Track data and measure progress against objectives to showing the community the real impact that these efforts have had on reducing blight.
Modesto Mo’Beautiful is a community-driven campaign aimed at celebrating the beauty of Modesto while inspiring residents to take action against blight. The campaign encourages civic pride and community engagement, urging individuals to unite in making their City more beautiful together toward preserving the beauty of Modesto.
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Blight Abatement
Advisory Committee
In 2019, with the creation of the 2020-2025 Blight Abatement Strategy, it was recommended that a new committee be formed that will advise the partnerships and initiatives. This new committee will also facilitate interdepartmental partnerships within the City as well as revitalize public-private and public agency partnerships. Funding challenges will always face various programs; therefore, it is necessary to constantly measure the programs for success through evaluation of key performance indicators. To ensure program resiliency in the future, it will be necessary to invoke a method of tracking and reporting, in addition to providing a space for collaboration and future planning.
Formulate and recommend
programs relating to blight
abatement, fundraising efforts,
and promoting volunteerism to
promote a more beautiful City
through blight abatement
efforts.
MISSION
The mission of the Blight Abatement
Advisory Committee shall be to promote
public engagement concerning blight
abatement in the community and to
make recommendations to the City
regarding program improvements,
potential funding opportunities, and
support with increasing volunteerism.
VISION
A City that takes pride
in its parks and
neighborhoods and
promotes
opportunities for all
residents to make
Modesto more
beautiful.
Act in an advisory capacity to the
City Council and the City Manager
in all matters pertaining to blight
and blight abatement efforts.
Blight includes abandoned
vehicles, nuisance properties, litter,
garbage, tagging, or other debris
that is discarded improperly.
Promote engagement from nonprofits,
neighborhood associations, and other
groups to perform community clean
ups; and support engaging private
stakeholders to raise funds for
programmatic efforts for this
committee.
Receive reports from City staff on
ongoing efforts and strategies
that have been established by
the City to abate blight and offer
recommendations for
improvements to these
strategies.
POWER & DUTIES:
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
This is a grant funded program that
allows residents to make an
appointment for their used
batteries to be picked up from their
homes and recycled. Accepted
battery types include alkaline,
button cell, and Ni-Cadmium
batteries.
The Residential Collection Program is
a free service for used oil and is
available to all residents who have
96-gallon garbage cans. Residents
can make an appointment and the
used oil and oil filters will be picked
up on the scheduled appointment
day by their garbage company.
HOUSEHOLD BATTERY
RECYCLING
USED OIL RECYCLING
Modesto residents can dispose of up
to nine tires free of charge with a
coupon during each event. The
coupon can be requested by
contacting the Public Works
Department.
This is a partnership with the
Mattress Recycling Council's Bye-Bye
Mattress program to provide easy
and free recycling of used
mattresses, box springs, and futon
mattresses at the Mattress Recycling
Trailer located at 610 S. Conejo Ave.
FREE TIRE AMNESTY
EVENTS
MATTRESS
RECYCLING CENTER
Grant funding is used to collect and
properly dispose of illegally dumped
tires throughout Modesto. The City
collects an average of 2,000 tires per
year from public right of ways.
TIRE ENFORCEMENT
This is an annual event hosted by the
City created to celebrate
sustainability and environmentalism.
The event, held in April, is a familyfriendly, fun, and educational event to engage with the community.
EARTH DAY IN
THE PARK
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Events & Community
Engagement Programs
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
Modesto Mo' Beautiful Drive-Up
Drop-Off events provide Modesto
residents with a convenient way to
dispose of unwanted items like
appliances, tires, trash, furniture, and
mattresses at no cost. These free
disposal events are funded by
grants, Measure H, and through
partnerships with Clean CA,
Caltrans, Bye-Bye Mattress, and
CalRecycle.
DRIVE UP DROP OFF
EVENTS
Each year, residents have the
opportunity to come together with
family, friends, or neighbors to
beautify and clean up their
community. The City can provides
litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests,
and trash bags to any group that
wants to participate in this initiative.
NATIONAL
CLEANUP DAY
Free recycling trailers for cardboard
and CRV plastic, cans, and bottles are
available for official events. Staff will
deliver and pick up the trailer or
recycling bins, ensuring the materials
are properly processed. This service
was designed to meet the recycling
needs of festivals, concerts, sporting
events, school events, parades, and
more, helping event producers save
costs while diverting recyclables from
landfills.
The 2nd Chance Week Event is a
nationwide event that promotes the
reuse of old items. Each year, the City
hosts a special collection event of
useful items for non-profit agencies
to highlight existing reuse
opportunities.
RECYCLING
TRAILERS
SECOND CHANCE
WEEK
All residents (and small businesses) of
Stanislaus County and its nine cities
can recycle the following products at
the Hazardous Waste Facility for free:
Antifreeze, Batteries
Motor Oil & Oil Filters
Brake Fluid, Transmission Oil
Gasoline
Paints, Solvents
Computers, Monitors, &
Televisions
HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE
FACILITY
The gleaning program is designed to
eliminate food waste and encourage
food recovery in Modesto. Gleaning is
the practice of collecting leftover or
excessive food from crops or trees.
The City partners with volunteers
from the East Stanislaus
Conservation District to provide
gleaning by request and deliver food
to local food banks and charities.
GLEANING
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Residential customers (single-family dwellings) are entitled to two annual bulky item pickups with service provided by their contracted hauler. The City has a pilot program for multi-family dwellings which currently has no limit.
Pickups must be scheduled in advance, and staff will confirm acceptable items. Bulky items include furniture, appliances, and mattresses, but exclude small household trash, construction debris, or items requiring special disposal. To prevent scavenging and illegal dumping, bulky items should be placed in the street no earlier than 6:00 PM the evening before the scheduled pickup.
Department Roles &
Responsibilities
Bulky Item Pickup
Green Waste
Green waste, including brush and trimmings less than six feet long, six inches in diameter, and weighing less than 50 pounds, is collected from City streets and alleys once a month. In 2023, 14,398 tons of green waste were collected from January through November, with an additional 3,909 tons of leaves collected during the leaf season in November and December. Four green waste crews operate in each City quadrant on a set schedule, with extra crews added during leaf season. No appointment is necessary, but residents must place green waste out no more than three days before and no later than the Sunday of their designated pickup week.
There are various departments and
divisions within the City of Modesto who
are an integral part of the initiative of
blight abatement. Each playing a key
role with respect to various programs,
services, enforcement, and abatement.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT:
SOLID WASTE SERVICES DIVISION
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The Street Sweeping Program consists of five street sweepers who follow behind the green waste crews and sweep small debris and dirt from the roads. They complete roughly 4,000 lane miles of street sweeping in a month. Street sweeping crews are also occasionally dispatched as needed to clean nonhazardous spills and debris from accidents, at the discretion of the supervisor. Green waste is disposed of at the City’s Composting facility and with Gilton Solid Waste and debris from street sweeping is disposed of at the Fink Road County landfill.
The street sweeping program is funded by the Storm Water Fund and the budget is approximately $2 million for fiscal year 24/25. The City also consistently receives $18,000 from the California Department of Transportation on an annual basis for street sweeping services on state right of ways in Modesto.
City of Modesto streets are swept once per month within 48 hours of the collection of your large yard trimmings. The street sweeping schedule is as follows:
Area A (pink) - Streets in this area are swept the 1st Full week of each month.
Area B (yellow) - Streets in this area are swept the 2nd Full week of each month.
Area C (green) - Streets in this area are swept the 3rd Full week of each month.
Area D (blue) - Streets in this area are swept the 4th Full week of each month.
Street Sweeping Program
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
The CEU ensures private properties comply with City Codes and Ordinances to maintain safe, vibrant neighborhoods. Blight on private properties includes abandoned shopping carts, junk, debris in public view, tagging, tall grass and weeds, and unmaintained vacant properties. When illegal dumping occurs on private property, the CEU follows the steps outlined below:
1. Complaint is received via GoModesto, CEU phone line, email or walk in.
2. The assigned CEU officer makes the initial inspection within 72 hrs.
Upon verification of a Modesto Municipal Code (MMC) violation, the assigned officer generates a Notice of violation which requires the property owner to make corrections within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of the notice.
3. After fourteen (14) calendar days, the assigned CEU officer re-inspects the property to verify the required corrections have been made. If the required corrections have been made, the case is closed. If the required corrections have not been made, the CEU officer issues an Administrative Citation to the property owner of record as shown on the Stanislaus County Recorders Assessment Roll.
4. Ten (10) calendar days after the mailing of an Administrative Citation the assigned CEU officer makes an inspection to determine if the required corrections have been made. This may occur up to three (3) times with the Administrative Citation amount increasing each time from $100, to $200 and up to $500.00 for the 3rd Administrative Citation.
5. *At any time after the initial inspection, if the assigned CEU officer determines there is a lack of forward progress, or that the conditions warrant a more aggressive approach to obtain compliance, they may choose to write a Notice and Order (N&O).
When issued, a (N&O) requires the property owner to correct violations within 20 calendar days. Unlike Administrative Citations, the (N&O) includes a daily Civil Penalty ranging from $100 to $1,000 per day. The document also allows Code Enforcement staff to monitor the property and assess penalties for continued non-compliance during a 12- month period. Additionally, this process enables staff to facilitate the abatement of violations and seek recovery of City expenses related to staff time and the costs of physically addressing the violations.
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Modesto Police Department:
Code Enforcement Unit (CEU)
Code Enforcement: Complaint Process
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BLIGHT ABATEMENT STRATEGY 2025-2027 CITY OF MODESTO
The MMC provides regulations for signs. The purposes of these sign regulations are to:
Encourage signs which are well designed and pleasing in appearance, and to provide incentive and latitude for variety, good design relationship, spacing and location.
Provide a reasonable and comprehensive system of controls of signs.
Encourage a desirable urban character which has a minimum of overhead clutter.
Attract and direct persons to various activities and enterprises in order to provide for commerce and the maximum public convenience;
Enhance the economic value of the community and each area of it through the regulation of size, location, design and illumination of signs;
Protect and enhance the character of residential neighborhoods and property values by prohibiting obtrusive and incompatible signs; and
Promote and maintain healthy commercial centers and property values, to effectively communicate the nature of goods and services, and to avoid wasteful, ugly and unsightly competition in signs.
The signs are approved through the City and upon approval they are enforced by CEU.
Enforcement is handled on a complaint bases.
Abandoned shopping carts are a nuisance, pose health and safety risks, and obstruct pedestrian and vehicular traffic. When the CEU receives a complaint via GoModesto, CEU hotline, or email, the case may proceed as follows:
If the reporting party identifies the store owning the cart, CEU checks the list and contacts the registered retrieval company. After three days, CEU verifies if the cart has been removed. If not, CEU can follow up with the company, impound the cart, or return it to the store. If the store is not identified, CEU determines ownership and the registered retrieval company. Once identified, CEU notifies the retrieval company and allows three days for pickup. After this period, CEU verifies removal and, if the cart is still there, can follow up, impound, or return it to the store.
If after verifying a cart does not have any identification or is badly damaged, CEU takes the cart to the corporation yard for disposal.
Any shopping cart not retrieved within 30 days of a notice of violation may be sold or disposed of by the City. The City may also impose an administrative penalty of up to $50 for each instance exceeding three occurrences within a 6-month period. An occurrence includes all carts impounded in a single day. The City is authorized to recover all costs associated with impounding the carts.
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Signs Regulations
Abandoned Shopping Carts Process
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Education First: The current philosophy
of CEU is to work with property owners to
abate blight. Often, property owners are
unaware of their property’s violations and
how they affect their neighborhood. For
example, many property owners are
unaware that overgrown vegetation such
as private trees that hang too low can
impede garbage trucks from accessing
trash bins in alleys or interfere with the
clear vision triangle.
Case by Case Basis: Code Enforcement
Officers are given the discretion to
determine the best enforcement strategy
depending on various factors such as
visibility and hazard level. Many times, a
phone call or site visit may be all that is
required for a violation to be abated.
Administrative Remedies Process:
Begins with an issue of a Notice of
Violation to the property owner. This
serves the purpose of identifying the
violation and providing a timeline for the
owner to abate it. If the violation is not
abated, the Code Enforcement Officer
may issue an administrative citation. If
the violation continues to exist or is of a
severe enough nature, a Code
Enforcement Officer may issue a (N&O)
which includes civil penalties. Once the
time given for compliance has lapsed,
City staff may abate the nuisance
conditions or hire private contractors to
abate the nuisance.
Appeal process: Any person served with
an Administrative Citation may file an
appeal within 20 days from the service of
the document. It is important to note that
A Notice of Violation from the CEU cannot
be appealed.
Confirmation of costs hearing: When
the City, directly or indirectly through a
contractor, abates a nuisance condition
an itemized accounting of the costs
incurred are presented to a Hearing
Officer at a confirmation of costs hearing.
All administrative and actual costs may be
recovered from the responsible party.
Administrative penalty hearing: A
hearing officer affirms whether the civil
penalties assessed through a (N&O), or
administrative citation were appropriate
and whether the responsible party caused
or maintained the violation.
Code Enforcement Unit Citations
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 100
200
300
400
500
273
301
490
277 254
The spike observed in 2022 can be attributed to
the addition of an employee.
Important Note: Code enforcement was under
Community Economic Development (CED) at
City Hall and became part of the Police
Department in July 2023. PAGE 14
Pre-Fine Procedure Post-Fine Procedure
Fines
Procedures
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Go Apps Completed
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 500
1,000
1,500
2,000
1,133 1,176
1,329
1,534 1,558
Fees Charged
Fees Unpaid
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
Modesto Police Department:
Alternative Response Unit
Abatement Data
GoModesto! is an intuitive, multi-lingual, onthe-go reporting tool allowing residents of Modesto to report issues like street flooding,
light outages, illegal dumping, tagging,
vandalism, broken playground equipment, or
more, along with progress notifications until
the job is done!
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Fees are based on Administrative
Citations and hearing enforcements. In
2022, fees were higher due to a backlog
of cases from the pandemic when
hearings were delayed. These fees
ranged from $1,000 to $100,000 and
could result in liens, which may explain
unpaid fees. For 2023 and 2024, fees
have stabilized as the caseload has
returned to normal. However, fees still
fluctuate depending on the number of
hearings held each year, which can
cause them to be higher in some years
and lower in others.
The Modesto Police Department:
Code Enforcement Unit Citations Fees Charged vs Outstanding Fees GoModesto!
Town hall meetings and active collaboration
with City council members have played a key
role in promoting the Go App process,
resulting in increased participation.
As shown above, these are the number
of GoModesto requests completed on
an annual basis.
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Park Clean Ups
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 100
200
300
400
500
88 110
145
404
293
Camps Cleaned Up
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
532
689 705
528
1,224
PAGE 16
Routine Quality of Life (QOL) overtime shifts,
specifically aimed at addressing blight,
contributed to a more robust 7-day-a-week
effort to reduce vagrancy and clean up camps.
With more enforcement units patrolling the
streets, there were fewer camps in parks, which
in turn reduced the need for park clean-ups.
While speculative, the decline in park clean-ups
may also be attributed to increased
engagement from the Community Health
Assistance Team (CHAT) team, which has led to
more unhoused individuals accepting shelter.
Stats from 2020 to 2023 only reflected data
from the Homeless Engagement and
Response Team (HEART). In 2024, with the
expansion of the Area Command Division,
"camps cleaned up" now includes efforts from
the entire division, including Park Rangers.
Furthermore, in Q1 of 2024, Park Rangers
reached more robust staffing and transitioned
to a 7-day-a-week deployment model, leading
to an increase in camp clean up.
Parks
Cleaned Up
Camps
Cleaned Up
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Abandoned Vehicle Complaints
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
4,364
5,031
3,651
3,137 3,125
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The City of Modesto has a policy and procedure for managing abandoned vehicles, with the assigned officer responsible for the following actions:
Check Vehicle Information:
Verify the vehicle's license and VIN through California Law Enforcement Systems (CLETS) to obtain the registered owner's details.
Place an abandoned vehicle warning sticker in a visible location on the vehicle.
Mark the tires to track the vehicle's position.
Complete Required Documentation:
Obtain a case number and fill out a Vehicle Report form.
Do not submit the report until after the 72-hour or 10-day waiting period.
During this period, attempt to contact the registered owner via registered letter and document these attempts in the report.
If the vehicle is moved during the waiting period, ensure this is recorded in the report before submitting.
Issuance of Citations and Towing:
Parking citations for the 72-hour ordinance are not issued if the vehicle is stored for a parking violation.
If the vehicle is missing essential parts (such as the engine, transmission, or wheels), it may be towed immediately under Vehicle Code § 22669(d), bypassing the waiting period.
Abandoned Vehicle
Complaints
It's difficult to pinpoint why
complaints fluctuate; fewer vehicles
or fewer people noticing them could
be factors. During the COVID
pandemic, with more people working
from home, reporting may have
increased. Regardless, fewer
complaints are a positive trend.
Recently, we added a second
Abandoned Vehicle Abatement
Officer to help address these issues,
and with increased efforts, we may
see a rise in enforcement next year.
As shown above, these are the annual complaints
the City receives regarding abandoned vehicles.
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Trash & Debris Tagging Miscellaneous*
Vegetation Parking Surface
2022 2023 2024
0 200
400
600
800
1000
351 370
170
376
194
322
409
285
488
199
357
258
155
945
232
TOP 5 MOST FREQUENT TYPE OF VIOLATIONS
*Misc-represent things like green pools, basketball hoops, rodents, etc.
These violations are complaint-driven, as the CEU has not yet become a fully proactive unit.
Determining what causes complainants to report violations year to year is challenging. However, vegetation complaints are among the most common reoccurring violations, as simply failing to mow grass after a rainy season can lead to issues.
A quick search shows 2023 was the 8th wettest year in a century, while 2024 was about average, so it's unclear whether an unusual rainy season contributed to more vegetation growth in 2024.
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Due to a change in the tracking system, data for 2020 and 2021 is unavailable, with records beginning in mid-August 2021.
Abatement Weight (lbs)
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0 100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
283,220
328,590
361,070
607,659
548,879
Before 2023, MPD had an abatement truck
staffed by part-time employees. In 2023,
MPD expanded the team to include one
full-time abatement worker and three
part-time staff, allowing for more time in
the field to address trash.
This trend continued with the addition of
another full-time employee in 2024.
Additionally, this timeline aligns with the
previously mentioned increase in Park
Rangers and their 7-day-a-week schedule.
In 2024, MPD also partnered with the solid
waste department on larger abatement
and code enforcement projects to support
clean-up efforts.
Abatement Weight
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COMPONENT DEPARTMENT
Abatement Modesto Police Department (Code Enforcement Unit) Program
Administration
Modesto Police Department (Code Enforcement Unit), Park and Recreation and Neighborhoods (Tagging Crew)
Volunteer/Outreach Park and Recreation and Neighborhoods Code Administration Modesto Police Department, Planning, City Attorney’s Office
Deterrence Modesto Police Department (Code Enforcement Unit), City Attorney’s Office
Tagging Abatement
“Tag We’re On It” leverages strong partnerships with both public and private entities to achieve its goal of eliminating tagging in Modesto. The initiative consists of five (5) components, each with its distinct function, but all focused on the shared objective of eradicating tagging.
Program Administration
CEU and their support staff provides needed coordination and data entry for this program. All complaints that come into the City regarding tagging are entered into a database for distribution. If the report is on public property, the case is retrieved by the tagging removal crew and placed in their daily work routine. If the incident is on private property, the case is queued for a Code Enforcement Officer to investigate the next day.
Volunteer/Outreach
The first step to provide awareness to the anti-tagging team was to develop a slogan for the campaign. With donated time from Never Boring, Inc. the slogan, “Tag. We’re On It!” was created to help the community know that the City is actively and aggressively combating tagging. Dual use of the word “Tag.” gives the visual of the child’s game “Tag, you’re it!” as well as describes what the team is removing. The use of the word “We’re” denotes that eliminating tagging in the City is not only the responsibility of City staff but also of the entire community. It takes City staff, volunteer groups, and every citizen of Modesto getting involved to make a difference.
PARKS, RECREATION &
NEIGHBORHOODS
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Code Administration
Tagging on private property must be handled differently since due process is required. The owner must be properly notified and given seventy-two hours (72) to remove or paint over the tagging. If the owner does not comply with the City’s request, CEU can remove or paint over the tagging with the use of a private contractor or the City’s abatement crew and invoice the owner for this cost. A confirmation of cost hearing is eventually required to verify the City followed due process in assessing this cost. If the owner does not pay the invoice, the City can lien the property. Much of the time, the owner removes or paints over the tagging; therefore, this step is often not necessary.
CEU staff works hard to partner with owners in removal. Staff recognizes that it can be difficult for some owners to constantly remove tagging on private fences or buildings that are in highrisk areas. In these cases, the owner will be asked to sign a waiver, and the property will be placed on the abatement crew’s hot spot route. In other cases, CEU staff will work with the Volunteer component to find groups that may be able to help an owner that is finding it difficult to remove or paint over the tagging.
The MMC allows us to administer an effective anti-tagging program through aggressive fines and penalties, clarified roles and tools for enforcement staff to remove and or paint over tagging.
The MMC sends a message that the City is serious about this type of vandalism, which not only impacts the City economically but also detracts from our citizens’ quality of life. The term “tagging” was added to the definition of Graffiti in Section 4-12.401. Modesto is unique in that the term “Graffiti” has a special meaning to the community. Even though most communities use this term to describe vandalism, the City will not be using it in enforcement mechanisms. In addition to these amendments in this section, refinements are being proposed in the “Responsible Party” definition and two new definitions were added: “Property Owner” and “Abatement” to help clarify the City’s enforcement actions.
Section 4-12.405 Punishment Provisions includes proposed increases in the number of administrative fines that can be imposed for tagging violations, as follows:
1. For first violation: two hundred dollars ($200)
2. Second violation: five hundred dollars ($500)
3. Third violation within one year: one thousand dollars ($1,000) The proposed language clarifies that the City may petition a sentencing court to impose additional penalties or conditions for individuals criminally charged with violating the City’s tagging regulations, including community service and suspension or delay of issuance of a driver’s license. The Program Administration component has a “moniker” field in the database to track taggers monikers. If the Police Department is able to apprehend a tagger, staff will be able to search the database for all the incidents in which their moniker appeared. This will allow prosecution to add all the violations that have occurred for a substantial fine.
Deterrence
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Tagging Data
Looking at the data you can see that the
abatement crew completes 14-20 abatements
per day. The tagging numbers below are both on
private and public property. On average we can
gain compliance within 72 hours 74% of the time.
Generally, once tagging is reported in a public
area, the abatement crew can remove it or paint
over it in 24 to 48 hours.
Abatement Teams
The Modesto Police Department Abatement Teams focuses on addressing homeless encampment remnants and enhancing efforts to abate illegal dumping throughout the City.
The team operates proactively while also responding to requests submitted through the GoModesto app. The current staffing and resources are the following:
Staffing: 1 full-time and 4 part-time team members, with the capacity to expand to 2 full-time and 6 part-time members.
Equipment: 2 trucks and 2 trailers.
Work Hours: The team collectively works approximately 64 hours per week.
The Solid Waste Division Blight Abatement Team focuses on illegal dumping and blight in the public right of way, especially in cases where a responsible party cannot be located. The Blight Abatement Team is comprised of 4 full time staff and 2 part time staff. They operate trucks and trailers or a grapple truck to efficiently collect material from streets and alleys.
In some cases where there is significant blight or where either team cannot fully clean the area, MPD and SW will work together (often with the assistance of other City staff) to complete large projects. While both teams have specialized tools and skills that best address their individual blight needs, the combined effort of these teams demonstrates ways that the City is using its resources for interdepartmental success.
The Tagging Abatement crew consists of two full-time teams that work 5-7 days a week, primarily focusing on removing tagging from public or City-owned properties. In some cases, the City obtains permission from private property owners, through a waiver, to remove tagging from highly visible areas such as fences or sound walls along busy thoroughfares. Each day, the crew follows a designated "hot spot" route, actively searching for and removing tagging as it occurs.
Tagging Cases
2022 2023 2024
0 500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
2257
2790 2638
*We do not have data for 2020 or 2021 as the tracking system was different and unfortunately the records begin at the middle of August 2021. To allow a clear calendar year perspective of tagging abatement we are showing data beginning 2022.
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*If the CEU officer determines progress is
insufficient or that a more aggressive approach
is needed, they may issue a (N&O) at any point
after the initial inspection. A (N&O) requires
corrections within 20 days and imposes daily
Civil Penalties of $100 to $1,000. It allows for 12
months of monitoring, with penalties for
continued non-compliance, and enables the
City to recover costs for abatement and staff
time.
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The CEU ensures private properties comply
with City Codes to maintain safe, vibrant
neighborhoods. Blight includes abandoned
shopping carts, junk, debris, tagging, tall grass,
weeds, and unmaintained vacant properties.
When illegal dumping occurs on private
property, the CEU follows these steps:
Complaint is received via GoModesto, CEU
phone line, email or walk in
1. The assigned CEU officer makes the initial
inspection within 72 hrs.
2. Upon verification of a MMC Violation, the
assigned officer generates a Notice of
violation which requires the property owner
to make corrections within fourteen (14)
calendar days of the date of the notice.
3. After 14 calendar days, the assigned CEU
officer re-inspects the property to confirm
corrections have been made. If corrected,
the case is closed. If not, an Administrative
Citation is issued to the property owner of
record.
4. Ten (10) calendar days after mailing an
Administrative Citation, the CEU officer
inspects the property to check if corrections
were made. This process may repeat up to
three (3) times, with fines increasing from
$100 to $200, and up to $500 for the third
citation.
5. The Solid Waste Division investigates illegal
dumping in public areas as a violation of the
MMC. Some residents are unaware of proper
disposal methods, while others dump to
avoid fees. The following steps are taken to
address reported incidents:
Complaints are reported by citizens, City
employees, and Solid Waste staff through
phone, email, and GoModesto, with staff
also identifying potential illegal dumping
during routine work.
1. Code Enforcement investigation—A
code enforcement officer is assigned
based on the report's order, conducts
field investigations, and contacts the
reporting party if needed.
2. If the responsible party is identified, a
Notice of Violation is issued, giving them
five business days to remove the
dumping. If not addressed, an
Administrative Citation is issued, and the
waste is removed within three days. For
dumping that blocks sidewalks or bike
lanes, removal occurs immediately, and
the responsible party is charged.
3. If no responsible party is found— the pile
is referred to Blight Abatement Team or
the haulers for pickup within three
business days.
4. As of 2024, the City refers all illegal dumping
reports to the Blight Abatement Team for
collection, using haulers only in cases of
delays or large amounts of material. This
streamlines the process, ensuring prompt
and efficient removal from public areas.
Illegal Dumping on
Private Property
Illegal Dumping on
Public Right-of-Ways
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Future Goals & Strategies
Tagging Abatement Goals:
Maintain the current pace of addressing
and removing tagging within 48 hours,
with a goal of responding within 24 hours.
Ensure team remains familiar with "hot
spots" to efficiently address tagging issues.
Camp Cleanup & Department Collaboration
Goals:
Reduce camp cleanup tonnage collected
by Park Ops staff by utilizing support from
MPD and Solid Waste abatement teams.
Share the workload across departments to
respond more quickly and reduce tonnage
collected by Parks staff, enabling them to
focus on park maintenance.
Park Usage Goals:
Support positive use of parks and reduce
negative use where possible.
Continue collaboration with MPD, Park
Rangers, CHAT, SW, and CARE teams to
enhance park operations and abatement
efforts.
PARKS, RECREATION
& NEIGHBORHOODS
Ordinances & Enforcement:
Finalize and implement massage parlor
and vacant building ordinances.
Designate code enforcement officers to
oversee enforcement of these ordinances.
Staffing & Resources:
Hire 2 full-time and 4 part-time positions
for blight abatement.
Acquire new trucks and trailers to replace
aging equipment.
Blight Abatement Improvements:
Enhance community outreach to prevent
blight.
Streamline tracking and coordination of
abatement efforts.
Meetings & Collaboration:
Continue heading county-wide blight
abatement meeting (Turlock, Ceres, CHP,
Cal Trans, etc.).
Participate in City of Modesto department
head meeting to coordinate abatement
efforts.
PW: Solid Waste/Streets
MPD/CEU
Increase Engagement for the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee (BAAC):
Revitalize the BAAC by supporting members in community projects to reduce vacancies, boost attendance, and expand service opportunities.
Launch the "Modesto Mo Beautiful" Campaign:
In 2025, the City will launch a campaign to unite departments and engage residents, businesses, and stakeholders in reducing blight and enhancing community beautification." Develop Software for Enforcement Efficiency:
Partner with a software contractor to create a case management system to improve tracking and managing blight-related issues, boosting enforcement speed and efficiency.
Reduce Illegal Dumping Response Time:
Aim to decrease the response time for illegal dumping from 8 days to 72 hours, building on past improvements and increased staff.
Weed Abatement Team (Streets Division):
Track progress in managing overgrown vegetation and blight in public spaces. Public Works will monitor the effectiveness of the Weed Abatement Team.
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Conclusion
The City’s efforts to address blight and boost community engagement are driven by targeted initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes. The revitalization of the Blight Abatement Advisory Committee (BAAC) aims to reduce vacancies, increase attendance, and create more community events and volunteer opportunities.
The "Modesto Mo Beautiful" campaign will unite City departments, residents, businesses, and stakeholders to beautify the area, with success measured by campaign reach, events, and stakeholder involvement.
The Weed Abatement Team tackles overgrown vegetation and blight in public spaces, with progress tracked by reports, resolution times, and completed projects. A new case management software system will streamline blight enforcement, aiming for faster case resolution. Additionally, the goal to reduce the response time for illegal dumping from 8 days to 72 hours will be tracked by quicker removal times.
These combined efforts are designed to create a cleaner, safer, and more engaged community with measurable progress.
The City is taking strong steps
to fight blight and involve the
community by setting clear
goals and boosting resources.
With new ordinances, more
trained staff, and better
equipment, we’re stepping up
enforcement and cleanup
efforts.
We’re also making it easier to
track issues and hear from
residents. By working closely
with nearby cities and our own
departments, we’re building a
united front against blight—
working together for a cleaner,
stronger, and more connected
community.
The City has established clear performance metrics to
meet its goals for tagging abatement, camp
cleanups, and park usage. In terms of tagging
removal, the focus is on quick responses and regular
monitoring of high activity "hot spots" to ensure
tagging is addressed promptly.
In camp cleanups, the City aims to reduce waste
collected by Park Operations by sharing
responsibilities with the MPD and Solid Waste teams,
ensuring cleanups are efficient and timely.
To boost park usage, the City is promoting positive
activities while reducing negative incidents. This
includes launching joint initiatives each month and
improving response times to park-related concerns.
These goals and performance metrics are designed to
keep public spaces clean, safe, and welcoming for
everyone.
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GLOSSARY
Definition
A one-cent sales tax to fund general City services passed by Modesto voters in November 2022.
Term
Measure H
Blight Abatement
Team
A large-scale economic stimulus package designed to address the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA)
The mission of HEART is to address vagrancy issues by building partnerships and collaborations between the Criminal Justice System and Social/Medical Services.
Home Engagement
And Response Team
(HEART)
Created to help address the unhoused population and
individuals experiencing mental health / substance abuse crisis.
Manages enforcement and compliance efforts for the vacant building ordinance, neighborhood blight and municipal code compliance, sidewalk vending, banner posting, and other administrative citation processes.
Community Health and
Assistance Team
(CHAT)
Code Enforcement Unit
(CEU)
Operates two large pickup trucks with trailers to abate unsightly trash and debris related to quality of life and criminal activity.
They operate at the direction of the area commanders and work in close conjunction with the other units in the division.
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A municipal code is a set of laws that are enacted and enforced by a village, town, city or county government.
Modesto Municipal
Code (MMC)
A document used in abatement actions and assessment of civil penalties involving serious code violations which provide notice of municipal code, uniform code or applicable State Code violations and orders a responsible party to take certain steps to correct the violations within a definitive period of time. Civil penalties may also be imposed in conjunction with this notice.
Notice and Order (N&O)
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209-577-5223
[email protected]
1010 10th Street Modesto, CA 95354
Phone:
Email:
Address:
The development and update of the Blight
Abatement Strategy 2025-2027 was made
possible through the collaborative efforts of
staff from multiple departments, including
Public Works: Solid Waste Division, Parks,
Recreation & Neighborhoods, the Modesto
Police Department, and the Code Enforcement
Unit. Their ongoing commitment to preserving
the beauty of Modesto is invaluable.
Website: www.modestogov.com
Contact Details:
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