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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
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STAFF REPORT Agenda 0 Na: 3 -
Subiect: City ClerkICDC Secretary
Update on City Manager's graffiti initiative. City of San Bernardino
Backaround:
Graffiti is an ongoing problem requiring an ever-increasing amount of monetary and personnel
resources. On December 15, 2008, the City of San Bernardino implemented a City operated graffiti
abatement program. The program called for graffiti removal services to be provided seven days a
week, with a 48 — hour response time to newly reported incidents. City crews began operating on
January Is'. As a result of the previous contractor terminating services in early December, the City's
crew was faced with a back log of graffiti reports, in addition to the new reports being called into the
City's new Graffiti Hotline. The carryover of work orders continued for three months, as the demand
for services outpaced the City's ability to meet the demand. L
In April of 2009, additional staff and four new graffiti vehicles were added tofthe City's graffiti fleet,
allowing the crew to operate 6 days per week. With a gained familiarity v the City's streets, and ✓
added skill with the equipment, the City crews completed the back log of service requests and were
able to focus on a more rapid response to new reports. Crews are now operating 7 days per week,
with a 24-hour response time to graffiti reported to the City's Graffiti Hotline and electronic reports
submitted through SB Access online.
New Initiative
Acknowledging the affect that graffiti has on the economic vitality of the City, the City Manager
requested that an aggressive program be created to address this issue. Placed at the helm of this
initiative, Police Chief Kilmer created in internal task force of City departments to identify and
discuss ways to improve the efforts of the City's program. Staff from the San Bernardino Police
Department, Code Enforcement, Public Services, Parks and Recreation and the City Manager's
Office met to identify ways to enhance the City's current efforts. The outcome of these meetings was
the creation of SB TAAG—San Bernardino Taking Action Against Graffiti.
SB TAAG has developed into a multi-faceted partnership of city departments, local agencies and the
community. The mission of SB TAAG is to eliminate graffiti in San Bernardino through eradication,
education and enforcement to create a more beautiful San Bernardino.
Eradication
The City's graffiti abatement crews have made notable progress in their abatement efforts In January,
705 work requests were opened. In August, that number almost doubled to 1,362. In January of 2009,
the average length of time to close out a graffiti report was approximately 25 days. In May, that /
J number decrease4to 7 days, today the crews have exceeded their goal of a 48 hour response time, ✓
addressing new reports within 24 hours. Reports from the previous contractor illustrate that for the 12
months of FY 2007/2008, there were 1,854,148 square feet of graffiti abated. From January 1 -
August 31, 2009, City crews have abated over 2,216,785 square feet of graffiti from the City's streets.
In addition, City residents are reporting more graffiti via the City's Graffiti Hotline and electronically
through SB Access Online. To expedite the reporting process, the Graffiti Hotline will be answered
by a member of the graffiti crew during City Hall operating hours. Additionally, improvements have
been made to the City's website to make it easier for residents to report graffiti online.
When reports are received, the location of the graffiti is entered into an automated system which
crews can access remotely from the field. This technology allows for an immediate response to new
reports. The most common method for eradicating graffiti is the use of airless paint sprayers.
However, the graffiti trucks are also equipped with sandblasters and water sprayers. When graffiti is
reported on private property, the crews make contact and receive consent from the property owner
rior to abatement. 1
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A recurring issue is that of graffiti in County pockets. To address this issue, Coun Code
Enforcement was asked to be a partner in SB TAAG. This partnership will enhance line of J
communication between the City and County when responding to abatement requests in
unincorporated areas of the City. Discussions are also taking place to further that partnership, with
the possibility of City Crews contracting with the County to assist with their graffiti abatement
efforts. Vice Chair 5a' District Supervisor Josie Gonzalez's Office, 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry
and the County Administrator's Office have also joined SB TAAG effort.
City staff has also met with BNSF Railway to address access issues that City crews are often faced
with when responding to graffiti calls on and around the rail yards. Also plagued with graffiti, BNSF
has agreed to partner in this initiative.
Education
The issue of graffiti affects neighborhoods across the City. A facet of SB TAAG is to ensure that
members of the community and business owners are more aware of the negative consequences that
graffiti has on the City, and encourage people to get involved in clean up efforts. This will be
accomplished by organizing community graffiti clean up days; making use of equipment, paint and
training supplied by the City's Graffiti Team; or by simply calling and reporting graffiti. An
additional element of the education component is ensuring that the community is aware of how to
report graffiti and the importance of providing information regarding graffiti related crimes.
As with any crime, the City will be better able to address graffiti related situations if they are
reported. To enhance that effort, SB TAAG is looking for volunteers to serve as TAAG Spotters.
Working in teams, TAAG Spotters will drive the streets of San Bernardino and submit graffiti reports
into the City's automated system. Equipped with a City vehicle and City cell phones, these
volunteers will provide a crucial service of reporting graffiti to the City's crews. The Inland Empire
Job Corps has offered to assist in this endeavor by providing students to serve as interns and
volunteers, City staff will hold a training class for the TAAG Spotters to detail the correct and safe
way to report graffiti.
SB TAAG has developed an identifiable logo and brochure that will be used to provide the
community with essential graffiti information. Distributed via water bills, business registration
notices, at community centers and parks and through all SB TAAG partner agencies, residents and
businesses will be informed of the negative effect that graffiti has on their community and what they
can do help clean up their streets.
Enforcement
The San Bernardino Police Department has a highly acclaimed Graffiti Task Force. As experts in the
field, our officers have authored books and hosted seminars on the investigation and enforcement of
graffiti related crimes. The SBPD Graffiti Task force is assigning an additional officer to the
program, for a total of four full time officers and one full time sergeant solely dedicated to graffiti
related crimes. In addition, the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police have partnered
with the City to help identify and arrest graffiti offenders.
In order to prosecute graffiti crimes, the City must have a justifiable restitution fee in place. City
staff is in the process of completing analysis to calculate the appropriate fee. This fee will assist the
courts in determining if graffiti violations are to be charged as misdemeanors or felonies.
Recognizing that many graffiti offenders are under the age of 18, and likely unable to pay restitution
fees, SB TAAG has partnered with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office and other
agencies to develop a community service program. Youth convicted of graffiti related crimes may be
placed back into the community to perform beautification and abatement services in the City's parks.
Staff is also working to identify successful graffiti diversion programs used by other municipalities.
These programs are managed and executed through City Departments in an effort to persuade youth
away from graffiti before they are arrested for serious violations.
Next Stens
Graffiti is not a simple problem, and the City recognizes that a comprehensive program is needed to
address the issues that result from graffiti related crimes. SB TAAG establishes a foundation for a
sustaining anti graffiti campaign to be built upon. Staff will continue to meet with partner agencies to
develop strategies that will further graffiti eradication, education and enforcement efforts.
Staff is in the process of modernizing the San Bernardino Municipal Code to be more relevant to
graffiti related crimes. A part of that modernization will be to adopt a Graffiti abatement fee to be
used for enforcement. Each of these actions will be presented to the Mayor and Common council for
adoption.
In addition, staff will provide regular updates on the progress being made by the City's graffiti crews,
as well as programs and partnerships that are developed through the continued efforts of SB TAAG.
Updates will be made regularly to the City's Website, to share the successes of the program with the
residents and business owners who are concerned with wiping out graffiti in the City of San
Bernardino.
Recommendation:
Receive and File.
Harness graffiti resources - San Bernardino County Sun Page 1 of 2
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Harness graffiti resources initiative is expected to harness those funds, as
well as the departments involved, to develop a
unified effort to abate graffiti, a key step to
eliminating blight within our community. It's
Our view: New initiative to fight graffiti offers
hope in city's effort to improve its image. important to note that promoters o
program seek no new city funding.. the new
Posted:09/2012009 09:59:37 PM PDT
San Bernardino city and police officials today will Although the San Bernardino Police Department
unveil a comprehensive plan to combat graffiti, a for years has assigned officers to enforce graffiti
top frustration for local residents and business laws, the new initiative draws from the expertise
owners. of police along with the Code Enforcement
Department and the Parks and Recreation
We encourage the San Bernardino City Council to Department to improve graffiti reporting,
throw its support behind the proposal, dubbed abatement and enforcement.
San Bernardino Taking Action Against Graffiti (SB
TAAG), a sweeping plan developed by the city Prevention and outreach are part of the
manager's office to help the city strengthen initiative, too.
partnerships among its own departments, and
with schools and other government agencies. City officials plan to reach out to local schools to
educate children and parents about the
In December, the City Council ended a contract consequences of graffiti, a crime that can result
with Los Padrinos Youth Services, which had in a felony conviction.
managed graffiti cleanup in San Bernardino for
16 years. The city paid Los Padrinos$588,000 Meanwhile, officials plan to inundate residents
annually for graffiti abatement and other and business owners with the graffiti hot line-
beautification work, but decided to bring those (909) 384-5687-in an effort to improve
services in-house following concerns that the reporting.
organization's response times had slowed.
Anyone who drives along the 210 Freeway, or
City officials expected the decision would cost through downtown, or near our schools, must
more, but figured improved response times were agree that graffiti is a problem. An aggressive,
worth the tradeoff. Since January, response times collaborative approach seems the city's best
have dropped from 25 days to 24 hours. hope -to eradicate such blight, yes, but also to
improve neighborhood pride and support efforts
Officials estimate the city spends more than $1 to retain and attract businesses.
million a year on graffiti, but those funds are
spread among various departments. The new We wish SB TAAG much success.
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