Council tables nuisance ordinance after residents raise safety and access concerns

The Valley Center City Council voted to table Ordinance 1418-25, a proposed amendment to nuisance regulations that would require all property owners to maintain rights-of-way, after sustained public comment raising safety and access concerns for certain ditches and agricultural areas.

City staff explained the ordinance on second reading, noting the city would still maintain multiuse paths 8 feet or wider and that, as drafted, property owners would be responsible for right-of-way maintenance in other circumstances. A resident who identified himself as Dave Matson said the proposal would remove an existing exception for land used for agricultural production and described a narrow, steep ditch near his 90-year-old mother’s property that he said is unsafe for a riding mower and dangerous to maintain by hand.

Other residents asked whether the city would maintain large culverts and stormwater facilities; public works staff said the city would continue to maintain stormwater facilities and structures such as concrete culverts. Several council members and staff acknowledged there are locations the city already does not fully mow because of safety and steep grades and proposed adding a discretionary exemption for unsafe areas.

Staff suggested the council could delay the second reading to add language clarifying discretionary exemptions and to verify rights-of-way maps. After discussion, Council member Bassett moved to table Ordinance 1418-25 to the next meeting; the motion carried.

The meeting record shows the council did not adopt the ordinance and directed staff to revisit the draft language to add safety/discretion exemptions and to confirm right-of-way boundaries before returning the item for a subsequent reading.