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Council affirms 2025 weed‑abatement program; city will issue invoices for abatement work after July
Summary
Council reviewed the 2025 weed abatement timeline and voted 4‑0 to approve the program; noncompliant properties will be abated by contractor, invoiced (including a $250 administrative fee) and may receive a lien if charges are unpaid.
The Hemet City Council on June 24 held a public hearing and approved the 2025 weed abatement program with a 4‑0 vote.
Program summary
City staff described the program’s timeline: courtesy notices were sent April 17; council adopted the abatement resolution May 13; a second round of notices with a firm June 1 compliance deadline was sent May 14; property inspections began June 1; the city set a final compliance deadline of July 1 and plans to start invoicing property owners for abatement services on July 31 with a $250 administrative fee added to invoices. If property owners do not pay, the city can place a lien on the parcel’s tax roll for cost recovery.
Fire prevention and civic beautification
Staff framed the program as a public‑safety and beautification measure intended to reduce brush and refuse fires and to remove blight from vacant and unmanaged lots. Staff said the program has coincided with a drop in fire incidents tied to overgrown lots since the program began in 2019.
Questions and clarifications
Council members asked whether charges could be placed on the property tax roll (yes, that is an option) and whether property management companies could be cited. Staff said the city is preparing municipal code updates to broaden the definition of a responsible person to include contracted property management companies so they can be cited for failing to maintain property.
Vote and next steps
With no registered public speakers for the hearing, the council adopted the item 4‑0. Staff will proceed with the compliance and abatement schedule and issue invoices beginning July 31 for any city‑performed abatement work.
Ending
Staff emphasized the program’s role in fire prevention and city beautification and said code updates to improve enforcement against property managers are forthcoming.
