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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7885 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7885 1 �a7eR�n January 17, 1985 E To the Mayor and Members of the City Council o: x� *%kx 6 * Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM 1877 BACKGROUND The Fort Worth Graffiti Program was adopted by the City Council on July 26, 1994 (M&C G- 10710), and became effective on August 1, 1994. It is a well rounded, inexpensive program relying heavily on donated paint and labor. The cost of the program for a full year of operation is $72,066, of which $68,831 is for funding of a graffiti abatement crew in the Parks and Community Services Department, and $8,235 is for funding of clerical assistance in Code Enforcement to process graffiti complaints. The major components of the program include: • Use of volunteer organizations to abate graffiti. • Operation of a paint bank to provide paint to the graffiti abatement crew, volunteer organizations and citizens to be used to abate graffiti. • Establishment of a graffiti abatement crew consisting of two City employees (crewleader and trades helper) supplemented by both adult and juvenile probationers. • Adoption of two ordinances, the first making it unlawful for minors 16 and younger to possess spray paint except in designated circumstances such as during regular employment, at home, under the supervision of a teacher, in connection with a school project, or as a part of an organized event sponsored by a school, church, or other officially recognized entity. The second ordinance requires the removal of graffiti from property within 14 days (or 21 days with a 7-day extension) of notification from Code Enforcement. Both ordinances carry a fine of up to $500 dollars per occurrence or each day that the violation continues to exist. • -Establishment of a Graffiti Hotline in the Action Center to respond to general inquiries, and refer citizens to the proper City departments. • Increased enforcement of current laws by the Police Department, including undercover monitoring of"hot spots"that experience frequent graffiti vandalism,offender apprehension, and monitoring retailers to ensure compliance with the laws prohibiting the sale of spray paint to minors. The Fort Worth Graffiti Program is carried out collaberatively by four City departments: Parks and Community Services, the Code Enforcement Division of the City Services Department, the Police Department and the City Manager's Office/Action Center. — ISSiwn RV TWI= P117V RAIMXnco. -- INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7885 & STE!{�.0 January 17, 1995 - To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 3 >Fx" Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM 1873 The following provides a progress report of the Graffiti Program through December 31, 1994. PARKS & COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT (PACSD) The PACSD provides assistance in the form of a Paint Bank and a funded crew now known as the "Graffiti Patrol". The Graffiti Patrol also has the responsibility of abating graffiti on public property, and has been active since September 9, 1994,.when the first full time employee was hired. To date the Graffiti Patrol has accomplished the following work: The Graffiti Patrol has abated 229 public and/or private graffiti sites including: 170 publicly owned sites using 764 gallons of paint and covering 149,478 square feet of area, approximately 3.5 acres. They have had to return to several of these sites two, three, four or more times, totalling 55 return trips. 44 privately owned sites using 104 gallons of paint and covering 26,560 square feet. .15 privately owned sites by using high pressure water and sand, removing graffiti from approximately 1927 square feet. Through the Paint Bank the PACSD has issued a total of 554 gallons of paint to individuals and groups including: 237 gallons of paint to 34 individuals, businesses or civic organizations. This is enough paint to cover approximately 76,230 square feet. 317 gallons of paint to the Citizens on Patrol groups through their respective Neighborhood Patrol Officers. This is enough paint to cover approximately 126,800 square feet. While completing all of this work the Graffiti Patrol has used 400 community service participants accumulating 2400 free labor hours, which equates to $24,000.00 in free labor value. The Graffiti Patrol gathered for the Paint Bank approximately 1400 gallons of paint, which if purchased new would cost approximately$21,000.00, from the Household Hazardous Waste Turn-in on October 29, 1994. In addition, the Paint Bank has had 3800 gallons of paint donated since October which if purchased would have an approximate value of$57,000.00 POLICE DEPARTMENT The Police Department has through cooperation with citizen volunteers abated 228 different sites. They have conducted three sting operations resulting in 14 arrests. Ten offenses were reported in the West Division resulting in five (5)arrests. The Police Department has conducted 19 surveillance details in different areas of the City at known "HOT SPOTS" which resulted in 12 arrests. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANer,l:Q ---- INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7885 1995 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 17,Page 3 of 3 Subject: PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM 7873 ACTION CENTER The Action Center has provided assistance to 315 citizens, requesting information concerning the Graffiti Abatement Program beginning August I to November 30, 1994. Citizens's calls were referred to the following divisions and/or departments as listed: 1)265 calls to the Code Enforcement Division; 2) 48 calls to the Parks and Community Services Department; and 3) 2 calls to the Police Department. LEGAL DEPARTMENT No action required during this reporting period. CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION The Code Enforcement Division received a total of 686 complaints about graffiti. These complaints resulted in 330 letters being sent to private property owners (Note: the number of letters and complaints do not correspond because some of the complaints received related to City owned property.) From these complaints 40 citations were issued to property owners who Wed to comply with the ordinance. Also of interest is the fact that 241 complaints-were unfounded at the time of the Code Enforcement Officer's inspection. The graffiti had been eliminated prior to the officer's inspection. The above constitutes a summary of activities for the Graffiti Program through the end of 1994. In the future staff will issue a written report to the City Council on a quarterly basis. Should you have any questions please let me know. o�bTerrell City Manager BT:I ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS-