Generous spring rains followed by a good dose of sunshine may be a boon to hay farmers, but Albany residents living near abandoned properties or next to neighbors who neglect their yards feel as if they are under siege by waist-high grass, spreading weeds, and aggressive blackberries.

Due to budget constraints, the City is limited to focusing weed abatement efforts on properties where the growth poses a fire hazard. City staff has received dozens of reports of overgrown lawns and vacant lots this year; when fire season is officially declared, staff will check those addresses to determine if a fire hazard exists.

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