City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 3 May 12, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 4.6
DATE: May 12, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Declaring Weeds to Be a Public Nuisance and Setting June 9, 2026, for a Public Hearing
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Union City, in coordination with the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) Fire Prevention staff, conducts annual inspections of vacant properties for overgrown weeds. Through an alternative weed abatement procedure under Government Code sections 39560-39588, the City may order the abatement of weeds by adopting a resolution declaring the weeds a nuisance. Under this approach, property owners have the option to either complete the weed abatement work themselves by a certain date or have it completed by a City contractor.
In addition to the City Council considering declaring weeds a public nuisance, a required public hearing on June 9, 2026, is proposed to provide property owners with an opportunity to submit any objections to the program.
Staff recommends that the City Council, by resolution (Attachment 1), find and declare that weeds growing on specified properties are seasonal and recurrent nuisances; and rubbish, refuse, and dirt upon parkways, sidewalks, or private property in the City of Union City are public nuisances and must be abated; and set June 9, 2026, at 7:00 pm for a public hearing.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Although this item is not aligned with a specific strategic plan goal, approval will initiate the process to remove weeds and debris from vacant properties, protecting health and safety.
BACKGROUND
As a fire prevention measure, ACFD Fire Prevention staff inspect vacant properties in Union City to ensure that weeds are removed by the Fourth of July holiday.
Agenda Item No. 4.6
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 3 May 12, 2026 5
2 1
The City will follow its traditional process of ACFD Fire Prevention staff performing up to three inspections of the City’s vacant land inventory (between April and May) and following up each time with a letter to the property owner. In prior years, if a property did not remove the weeds by the 3rd inspection, the case was forwarded to Neighborhood Preservation for follow-up.
This year, in lieu of forwarding the cases to Neighborhood Preservation after the last inspection, the City is proactively implementing a new process, authorized by, and conducted pursuant to, Government Code sections 39560 through 39588, to allow the City to hire a third-party contractor to remove the weeds should the property owner fail to do so and then to get reimbursed by the property owner for the costs. This process is a more streamlined alternative to the procedures in the City’s Municipal Code for weed abatement, saving the City time and money.
The abatement work typically consists of tractor mowing, supplemented by manual labor to clear weeds abutting fences and remove debris to facilitate tractor work. As detailed above, the property owners may make their own arrangements for weed removal. All properties on which the City performs the abatement work would be charged the full cost of work, including administrative costs. Administrative costs are 20% of the cost of the weed abatement services.
DISCUSSION
ACFD staff identified 36 vacant properties with overgrown weeds that could become a fire hazard if not properly maintained. A list of the properties is attached and labeled Exhibit “A”. The parcels are mainly located in residential neighborhoods throughout the City. See Attachment 2 for a map showing the location of the properties.
The City’s landscape maintenance contractor is scheduled to perform weed abatement in June, so the weeds are removed by the Fourth of July holiday. Property owners choosing to complete weed and debris removal themselves must complete the work before the last inspection. A letter will be sent to the property owners listed in the attached list, informing them of the public hearing and clearly explaining the process and schedule moving forward. This process provides sufficient opportunity for the property owners to perform their own work, if desired.
The first step in the process is to set a public hearing to provide the property owners listed in the attached list an opportunity to submit any objections.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City’s contractor performs weed abatement for the property owner, the property owner will be fully responsible for their proportionate share of the weed abatement costs, plus a 20% administrative fee. Property owners are only charged if the City’s contractor removes the weeds. Cost recovery is provided through a property tax lien, which the Alameda County Assessor’s Office collects.
Agenda Item No. 4.6
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 3 May 12, 2026 5
2 1
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council, by resolution (Attachment 1), find and declare that weeds growing on specified properties are seasonal and recurrent nuisances; and rubbish, refuse, and dirt upon parkways, sidewalks, or private property in the City of Union City are public nuisances, and must be abated; and set June 9, 2026, at 7:00 pm for a public hearing.
Prepared by: Juliet Vaughn, Associate, Associate Attorney Submitted by: Carmela Campbell, Economic and Community Development Director Attachments
1. Draft Resolution
2. Attachment 1 - Exhibit A- List of Weed Abatement Properties
3. Attachment 2 - Map Showing Location of Weed Abatement Properties