Own a vacant lot that doesn't look too hot?

If so, chances are you'll be getting a notice from the city sometime in the next two weeks notifying you to remove any tumbleweeds, overgrowth and/ or debris on the parcel that might cause the city to declare the site a public nuisance.

This initial communication with property owners is the first step in the department of community services annual enforcement of city ordinance No. 1-6.01.

"If you own a vacant lot, the city expects you to at least maintain it," said Jan Orsini, deputy director of compliance for community services.

According to Orsini, the public nuisance abatement program is about more than just making the vacant lots in the city appear more appealing-it's also about protecting the public.

"Once the windy season picks up and tumbleweeds start blowing they create a hazard if they get out into the public rightof-way," Orsini said. "This program is meant to help ensure public safety, which is very important to the City Council." After receiving their first no

tice through the mail, landlords will have until Oct. 30 to tidy up their land. If they do not, community services staff will include those properties on a list submitted to the City Council. Once that list is approved, the properties will be declared public nuisances.

"At that point property owners still have a little bit of time to go out there and clear their property but costs start occurring," Orsini said.

Last year the city declared 15 vacant lots in Simi public nuisances.

If after all this a property owner still hasn't followed through, the city then gives

community services the authority to hire contractors to go out and do the cleanup work. Not surprisingly, the offending landlord is responsible for any costs-labor and administrative-related to this work.

Costs can range from $100 all the way up to $600. If the bill isn't paid, the city can have the cost added to the owner's annual property tax bill. The tax collector would then turn around and pay the city.

That's why "it really behooves them to clear the property themselves," Orsini said. "But every year we end up with a few who don't."

Orsini said the problem of unsightly vacant lots in Simi Valley was much worse in the 1980s when the public nuisance abatement program began.

"Since we've had new housing developments, new commercial buildings, the amount of vacant lots in the city has really dropped," she said.

Last year, Orsini said, 109 property owners received notices to abate their parcels. This year's notices will be sent out starting Monday.

Removal of debris by contractors usually begins in December and January, after the rainy season, Orsini added.