REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Jennifer Villasenor, Director of Community Development
PREPARED BY: Jimmy Hoang, Code Enforcement Manager
Subject:
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Public Hearing and Authorization for the 2026 Annual Weed Abatement Program
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Statement of Issue:
On April 7, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-07, declaring that weeds and rubbish on certain vacant or undeveloped properties are a public nuisance. These conditions can create fire hazards and negatively impact neighborhood safety and appearance.
This public hearing is required before the City can move forward with clearing the properties. It provides property owners the opportunity to object. If no valid objections are received, the City may proceed with the cleanup and recover its costs from the property owners.
Financial Impact:
The City has budgeted $12,000 in the Weed Abatement Program (Account No. 10060301.69450) to cover the cost of clearing both public and private properties. When the City clears a private property, the cost is added as a one-time special assessment to that property owner’s property tax bill. The County then returns these funds to the City’s General Fund (Account No. 10000100.47415) through the normal property tax collection process. This ensures that the City recovers its costs and does not incur a long-term financial impact.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Open the public hearing to receive any objections to the proposed weed and rubbish removal; and,
B) Authorize the Director of Public Works to proceed with the abatement (removal) of the identified nuisance conditions.
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Alternative Action(s):
Postpone the public hearing and direct staff to revise the weed abatement schedule.
Analysis:
The City’s annual Weed Abatement Program helps ensure that vacant and undeveloped properties are maintained and do not pose fire or health risks or negatively impact neighborhood appearance.
State law requires the City to hold this public hearing before proceeding with the abatement. Resolution No. 2026-07 declared the identified weeds, refuse, and rubbish a public nuisance and scheduled this public hearing to allow affected property owners the opportunity to raise objections.
In accordance with legal requirements, notices were posted on the subject properties by April 17, 2026, at least 10 days prior to the hearing. In addition, individual notices were mailed to property owners of record informing them of the hearing date and their responsibility to clear the property.
If a property owner does not voluntarily remove the weeds or rubbish, the City will coordinate the cleanup. The cost of that work will be charged to the property owner as a one-time special assessment on their property tax bill, and the County of Orange will return those funds to the City during the normal property tax collection cycle.
This process helps protect the community from fire risk and blight while ensuring the City fully recovers its costs.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2026-07
2. Affidavit of Posting Notice to Destroy Weeds
3. 2026 Notice to Destroy Weeds and Remove Rubbish and Refuse Posting
4. PowerPoint Presentation