SAN CLEMENTE : City Seeks Residents’ Help in Cleanup

Tired of decaying neighborhoods littered with trash, abandoned cars and overgrown with weeds, city officials plan to ask residents to join them in a large-scale cleanup effort.

Tonight, the City Council will vote on whether to spend $10,000 to pay for new trash bins and a publicity campaign for the Neighborhood Pride Program, which officials say will start on three blocks in San Clemente.

The program aims to forge a partnership between City Hall and neighborhoods. Officials say they hope that clean streets will help reduce the problems of gangs and crime.

The program would start with a flyer in both Spanish and English that would be distributed to all homes in the target areas.

On a cleanup day, the city would send large trash bins to the neighborhood and provide workers to repair fences and sidewalks. The city also plans to tow away abandoned vehicles.

When the work is completed, city staff also plans to ticket those who repair vehicles on the street and investigate other possible fire and building code violations.