Vacaville City Council Approves Liens for Weed Abatement Costs

At the October 22nd, Vacaville City Council meeting, Fire Marshal Jill Childers presented a report on forced weed abatement actions taken by the city. Two properties, located at 995 Merchant Street and 524 / 530 Spring Lane, underwent lien hearings after the city hired contractors to clear hazardous weeds.

City staff had previously obtained a warrant to enter the property and remove the overgrown weeds.

The weed abatement cost the city $1,740.61 for Merchant Street and $2,998.82 for the Spring Lane addresses. Property owners were notified in advance of the hearing, but no questions or follow-ups were received from them.

Councilmember Greg Ritchie expressed concern, particularly regarding the Merchant Street property, describing it as “a hot mess” and a potential public health and safety threat. He stressed that the issue at this location extended beyond weed abatement, calling it a growing nuisance for the city.

The council voted unanimously to place liens on the properties to recover costs. Mayor John Carli commended city staff for their efforts, emphasizing that “fire safety is a big deal.”

These were the only properties in the city where forced weed abatement liens have occurred in 2024.