The City of Tempe Public Works Department is providing weed control in the city’s alleys as a measure to eliminate the vegetation that quickly grows after winter rains. Alleys from the north city limit to US 60 are complete; alleys from US 60 to the south city limit will be completed by the end of April. The city is asking residents and property owners to pull or cut down the weeds in their yards and on their sides of alleys.
Weeds are an eyesore and a fire hazard. The City of Tempe has codes that require residents and property owners to maintain their properties free from weeds or nuisances that may result in visual blight, fire or safety hazards, and neighborhood or economic deterioration. This includes grass or weeds over 12 inches tall, vegetation growing through gravel, or dead grass, weeds or other vegetation that may create a fire hazard.
“As the weather warms and the weeds dry up, the potential for fire is very real,” said John Osgood, deputy public works manager. “It is important that residents take their weed removal responsibilities seriously for reasons of fire safety and to be good neighbors by keeping their properties and alleys looking clean.”
Tempe has more than 165 miles of unpaved alleys and, by city code, property owners are charged with taking care of the alley space directly behind their homes, in addition to their property. As a result, the city is requesting help from residents in removing the dead weeds and keeping alleys and yards as well maintained as possible.
“Ideally they will bag up what they can and place them in the 300-gallon container in the alley,” Osgood said. “Or they can bundle them up and place them in a pile adjacent to their alley wall.”
For more information, call the Neighborhood Enhancement Division at 480-350-8372 or visit www.tempe.gov/codecompliance. For more information, call Street Maintenance in the Public Works Department at 480-350-8229.
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