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Other problems that we encounter in handling the weed mowing program <br />include: <br />1. handling the recurring complaint of affected property <br />owners who note they were not individually notified of the <br />City's intent to abate vegetation on their property; <br />2. billing accounts that pertain to properties under foreclosure <br />by the City or County governments and ultimately uncollectable; <br />3. continued billing of uncollected accounts months after <br />mowing has taken place; <br />4. billing known abusers who are yearly served by the weed mowing <br />program yet never pay and are never prosecuted; and <br />5. the invoices do not contain information informing the <br />property owners that they have the right to protest the charges <br />within 10 days after the billing date. This is a requirement <br />that is defined in Section 6.525 of the Eugene Code. <br />SOLUTIONS <br />The weed mowing program provides an essential service to the community <br />and should be continued. The obnoxious vegetation section of the <br />Eugene Code was invoked to secure what was seen to be an important <br />requisite to the promotion of the general welfare of the community, <br />namely, the abatement of obnoxious vegetation. The grass and weed <br />mowing program enforces these provisions. The program exists pri- <br />marily as impetus to the property owners to abate obnoxious vegetation <br />on their property. Secondarily, the program provides a means of <br />compliance to the ordinances in cases where they were previously unmet. <br />Finally, the fact that we see the need to scrutinize the weed program <br />does not imply that we discount the merits of its service or that we <br />dispute the underlying philosophy of its existence. We are merely <br />recognizing a need for upgrading the grass and weed mowing program <br />into a solvent operation. Streamlining the administration of the <br />program will eliminate unnecessary burdens on City staff and resources <br />that the program created in the past. <br />In examining the possible solutions for upgrading the grass and weed <br />mowing program into a solvent operation, we will propose a variety of <br />measures that will serve to cut costs and increase revenues. <br />-5- <br />