City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 2 July 28, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 5.1
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Hearing and Adopt a Resolution Confirming the Economic and Community Development Director’s Report Concerning Weed Abatement Assessments
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council hold the public hearing and, by motion, act upon any objections by property owners for assessments on their parcels for the 2026 Weed Abatement Program and, by resolution, confirm the Economic and Community Development Director’s report concerning weed abatement assessments.
The properties cleared by the City's contractor have a resulting range of assessments between $780 and $1,800. The combined total for all assessments was $6,780.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Although this item is not aligned with a specific strategic plan goal, this program facilitates the process of removing weeds and debris from vacant properties to protect health and safety.
BACKGROUND
The City of Union City and Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) Fire Prevention staff conduct weed abatement as a fire prevention measure. Vacant properties with the potential for extensive weed growth are included in the program. The program is authorized by, and conducted pursuant to, Government Code Sections 39560, et seq.
Owners of these properties have the option to either complete the abatement work themselves or have it completed by a City contractor through this program. On June 9, 2026, the City Council directed the Economic and Community Development Director to abate weeds on 36 parcels of land.
All properties on which the City performs the abatement work are assessed the full cost of that work, including administrative costs. Administrative costs are 20% of the cost of the abatement services.
Agenda Item No. 5.1
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 2 July 28, 2026
The abatement work typically consists of tractor mowing, supplemented with manual labor to clear weeds abutting fences and removal of debris to facilitate tractor work.
DISCUSSION
The Economic and Community Development Director’s report on the 2026 Weed Abatement Program is submitted following the City Council’s direction at the meeting on June 9, 2026. The report showing the assessments for the 2026 weed abatement has been posted as required. Owners whose properties are subject to an assessment may protest at this meeting or submit their objections prior to the hearing. As of July 23, 2026, no written objections have been received.
On June 9, 2026, the City Council directed the Economic and Community Development Director to abate weeds on 36 parcels of land. Following notification, private property owners cleared 28 parcels, and the City’s contractor cleared six (6) parcels. Due to site access issues, two (2) of the properties could not be abated by the City’s contractor, nor did the property owners perform the abatement work. Those two (2) remaining sites are being addressed through the City’s Code Enforcement process.
This year the assessments ranged from $780 to $1,800 (including the City’s 20% Administrative fee). The cost was based on the time it took the contractor to perform the abatement work, which was influenced by several factors, including the extent of overgrown weeds and other debris on the site that needed to be removed or worked around. The combined total for all assessments, including administrative fees, was $6,780.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Property owners pay for all work completed through the 2026 Weed Abatement Program through the proposed assessments.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council hold the public hearing and, by motion, act upon any objections by property owners for assessments on their parcels for the 2026 Weed Abatement Program and, by resolution, confirm the Economic and Community Development Director’s report concerning weed abatement assessments.
Prepared by: Juliet Vaughn, Associate
Submitted by: Carmela Campbell, Economic and Community Development Director Attachments
1. Draft Resolution with Exhibit A