Tumbleweeds-to-be are taking over a city sidewalk on Sherman Avenue.

As such, it dovetails into assertions that the City Of Manteca needs to get a better handle on making sure property owners perform basic property maintenance.

The Russian thistles that have almost choked the ability to use a public sidewalk alongside a cyclone fence north of Moffat Boulevard are especially problematic.

Not only do they become massive fire hazards when they dry out, but at one point they become tumbleweeds.

Given there are around 50 or so on the Sherman Avenue side of the property in question, that means they will end up blowing elsewhere.

Putting a large tumbleweed in a green waste container isn’t easy.

There are also other tumbleweeds forming along the Moffat sidewalk that borders the property that was once a trailer park and sold at auction earlier this year.

As a note to those at city hall who may not have a lot of time on the job or in their position, the city made a Herculean effort in combatting Russian thistles along Moffat on city property bordering the Tidewater Bikeway a decade or so ago when they launched pre-emergence weed spraying.

It came after years of the city and residents retrieving and disposing of tumbleweeds.

Unfortunately, the San Joaquin Rail Commission that acquired city property for an ACE parking lot being built in the next year or so apparently did not spray for Russian thistle.

It has led to future tumbleweeds growing along the Moffat sidewalk.

No problem. Once it dries out and starts rolling with the wind it will be the problem of owners and the city.

Nothing, of course, says inviting as massive weeds and tumbleweeds as you approach downtown.

A few years back, cleaning up “trashy” parts of Manteca was actually a top five priority of the council that had four of the current members on it.

Maybe the fact keeping Manteca presentable at one time was a high priority justifies adding a code enforcement officer or two with Measure Q receipts, making property upkeep rules more robust, and undertaking more aggressive enforcement.

It isn’t just aesthetics.

It is an issue that involves public safety whether it is enhanced fire danger or pedestrians being displaced from sidewalks.

The city should require minimum property upkeep and actually enforce the standard.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com