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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7960 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No..7960 ,1 r1l (, m 4 i .4 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 7, 1995 Al 1873 Subject: GRAFFITI REDUCTION STRATEGIES In response to concerns raised by members of the City Council relative to the proliferation of graffiti around the City, the Graffiti Task Force has identified strategies aimed at reducing this blight in the community. The Graffiti Task Force consists of representatives from the City's Police Department, Legal Department, Parks and Community Services Department, Code Enforcement, Department of Environmental Management, Transportation and Public Works Department, and the City Manager's Office; as well as the Mayor's Anti-Graffiti Inner-City Clean-up group. In combating graffiti, the Graffiti Task Force recommends a three-pronged approach, consisting of more aggressive surveillance and arrest of graffiti offenders, more aggressive prosecution of graffiti offenders, and more aggressive pursuit of retailers illegally selling paint to minors. I. MORE AGGRESSIVE SURVEILLANCE AND ARREST OF GRAFFITI OFFENDERS f�l r- The Task Force has identified three strategies to enhance the surveillance and arrest of graffiti offenders, as follows: A. Use of the CrimeStoppers tip line to pay rewards to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest of suspects for graffiti offenses. The CrimeStoppers Program began operation of the "Tag a Tagger" campaign on October 31, 1995. This program pays $100 for information that leads to the arrest of suspects for misdemeanor Graffiti offenses, and up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of suspects for graffiti in the felony category. B. Increased surveillance by Citizens on Patrol groups and Police Officers at high- incidence locations. C. Possible use of a portable surveillance camera system at high-incidence locations. Staff is currently investigating the cost of purchasing a portable surveillance camera system to be used to monitor locations experiencing a high incidence of graffiti, to enhance the surveillance by the Citizen on Patrol groups and Police Officers. At this time,the cost of a surveillance system is estimated at$3,000415,000. fill ;gf]"', C14Y „J,.', "I 17F., V IJ ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.. 7960 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 7, 1995 Page 2 of 3 Ug Subject: GRAFFITI REDUCTION STRATEGIES 7873 II. MORE AGGRESSIVE PROSECUTION OF GRAFFITI OFFENDERS A. Police Department and Legal Department staff are in the process of scheduling discussions with the District Attorney to emphasize graffiti offense prosecution as a priority of staff. III. MORE AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT OF RETAILERS ILLEGALLY SELLING PAINT TO MINORS A. Increased number of"sting"operations against paint retailers by the Police Department. OTHER ACTIONS f . 1. Implementation of the Responsible Retailer Program. An initial recommendation of the Task Force,the Responsible Retailer Program has been designed and is being implemented by the Parks and Community Services Department at this time. This program encourages aerosol paint and indelible marker retailers to display these items either behind a counter or a locked display case, or at a minimum, in a location that is visible from a cash register, or under video surveillance. In addition, the retailer will be encouraged to display Responsible Retailer placards and window decals,and check identification on all aerosol paint and indelible marker sales. 2. Marketing of the Graffiti Abatement Program more effectively. Another part of the initial recommendation by the Task Force was marketing of the Graffiti Abatement Program. Through the use of an Americorp Volunteer in the Parks and Community Services Department, the Graffiti Abatement Program will be more effectively marketed to the community. A brochure has been developed to disseminate information concerning the program. In addition, the Americorp volunteer will attend community meetings, write articles about the program for association newsletters, develop a door hanger providing information about the program, and develop a survey to be distributed nationwide to cities of comparable size to Fort Worth, in an effort to develop contacts in other cities and obtain information and ideas from other cities. dr ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS ---1.................... -11.......................... INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.7960 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council November 7, 1995 Page 3 of 3 XA Subject: GRAFFITI REDUCTION STRATEGIES 1873 3. Provision of painting supplies to organized groups for graffiti abatement. The Parks and Community Services Department will begin providing paint brushes, rollers, and other painting supplies to organized groups for graffiti abatement efforts from its budget. Currently,the Parks and Community Services Department provides free paint; however, supplies are the responsibility of the volunteer groups. This lack of supplies has, at times, been problematic in the past. FURTHER RECOMMENDATION The Graffiti Task Force recommends that the following action be considered: 1. Add indelible markers, glass-etching instruments and paint pens to the City's current ordinance which at this time only prohibits possession of aerosol paint by minors aged 16 of and under. This action is recommended because the City of Fort Worth is beginning to experience graffiti from sources other than aerosol paint. CONCLUSION A balanced attack of surveillance, arrest and prosecution of graffiti offenders,quick abatement of graffiti after it appears, and pursuit of retailers illegally selling graffiti products to minors are all strategies aimed at reducing the volume of graffiti throughout the city. Cooperation and collaboration between the affected City departments continues to provide a unified response to this blight. Should the City Council have questions, additional information can be provided upon request. OFFICAL gCORD Terr I CRY City Manager CRY SECRENRY FT. THE Ak ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER— FORT WORTH,TEXAS .........