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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 4, 1992 (60)~ CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 1, 1993 WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM COMMENDED Arthur Price, 1053 Port Chelsea, Lodi, read an excerpt from the Stockton Record regarding Water Conservation and caamiendad.Lh.succes of the program. FILE 3 td) August 25, 1993 Councilman Ray Davenport Dear Mr. Davenport: I was greatly dismayed by your remarks at the most recent City Council meeting regard- ing the highly effective Graffiti Abatement Program presently in place in the City of Lodi. I can but assume that you are misinformed regarding this program. Please find enclosed "Council Communication" dated March 4, 1992, which presents three alternatives upon which the Council had to act Alternate number one was passed unanimously. This was the most cost effective program and it has been a tremendous success. )f you will recall from the Council session held at the Grape Festival, the Public Works Department has obtained over 300 release forms and has responded to over 900 requests for service. Almost 80% of these requests were from the east side of town. This would be an insurmountable task for Mr. Cochran whose work I greatly admire. I particularly object to your "City Graffiti" remarks because th,3y are simply untrue. Our Lodi program is a model not only for the San Joaquin Valley but for any city our size in the United States. Before doing anything which might undermine our Lodi program, please talk to the citizens who have received help against this blight. Talk to Mr. Graves of Graves Country Antiques, who was vandalized the night before his store was to open. Talk to the merchants on Central Avenue and the residents on Garfield, Eden and Locust Streets. Talk to the Chamber of Commerce and the property managers. But above all, ta;ri to the members of the East Side Improvement Association who consider this program an indispensable part of their effort to revitalize the East Side. Sincerely, Arthur B. Price 1053 Port Chelsea Circle Lodi CA 95240 ABPIcc cc: Mr. Jack Ronsko Lodi City Council or o` CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Report on Graffiti Abatement MEETING DATE: March 4, 1992 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion and appropriate action. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: At its last meeting, the City Council directed staff to provide them more information and alternatives on a graffiti removal program. A copy of the Graffiti Ordinance is attached as Exhibit A. At the present time, the Parks and Recreation Department, Community Center and the Public Works Department are dealing with graffiti on their facilities. This would continue to be done by each department. The options listed under the removal methods would be used only on private property where releases are obtained. Removal Methods 4 Under the first two alternates listed, it is recommended that the City implement a 3 -month trial program. Three months would carry the program through to the beginning of next fiscal year when major ongoing funding could be made available. This funding will be discussed later. AltnrnatP 1 Under this alternate, the City would hire a part-time employee, furnish all equipment, materials and a vehicle. In the beginning, this employee would also be required to obtain releases. It is hoped that releases can be obtained by other methods discussed later in this communication. The cost of this alternative is approximately $7,500.00 which includes 40 hours of labor per week at $6.00 per hour and the equipment and materials. The $6.00 per hour includes the standard employment costs. This person would work a maximum of 8 hours per day which would allow us time to evaluatewhat is really needed for an on-going program. This cost does not include the cost of public relations or other promotional materials which will be discussed later. Alternate 2 _ This alternate is the same as Alternate 1 except the City would contract with a temporary service agency for employees to do this work. The cost of this alternate would be approximately $9,000.00 which includes 40 hours APPRCVED: THOMAS A. PETERSON CRY Manager CC -1 rr_vG:: •T!"'TJ nnwa rrn rrml Gohrnary 26_ 1992 Report on Graffiti Abatemant March 4, 1992 Page 2 of labor per week at $8.50 per hour. All other portions of this alternate are the same as Alternate 1. The only difference between these two alternatives is the hourly rate paid to the employee or the temporary agency. Under Alternate 1, the City would be responsible for worker's compensation for the part-time employee. Under Alternate 2, the temporary service agency will cover the employee worker's compensation, but the hourly cost is higher. Either type employee would be supervised by the Street Division. It should be noted that after the trial program is underway, and 40 hours per week are not needed, modifications to the work schedule will be made. Alternate 3 The third alternate is to contract with a graffiti abatement contractor. The attached information (Exhibit B) was supplied to the Council at its last meetina.by Arthur Price. This information includsd the proposal from Graffiti Abatement Service which would cost $3,600.00 for 20 hours of labor per month for a 6 -month period (120 total hours). The $30.00 per hour cost would include most materials. Under this alternate, releases would also have to be obtained. If the same number of hoilrs (560 hours) were provided under this alternate as in Alternates 1 and 2, the cost would be $16800.00. Because of the amount of this alternate even at 2G hours per month, the Ci' code requires that several bids be obtained if there are others who dc. ,,nis type of work. It should be noted that supervision and monitoring of this alternate would also be done by the Street Division. Alternate 4 The fourth alternative is to use volunteers. Based on past experience and the need to eradicate graffiti quickly and maintain control over work, it is felt that use of volunteers for the major graffiti removal is not a realistic alternative. Once an ongoing program is implemented, it is felt that volunteers could be used for an "adopt a wall" or "adopt a fences' programs, 1 -day paint -outs, etc. Obtaining Releases As mentioned at the last Council meeting, obtaining releases for graffiti removal is one of the most time-consuming elements of an abatement program. Attached as Exhibit C is a copy of our standard release. This release was recently revised to give the City authorization to abate until written notice to revoke this authorization is received. CGRA.FFIT/TXTW.02M (CO.COM) February 26, 1992 'Report on Graffiti Abatement March 4, 1992 Page 3 Listed below are a number of ways that releases could be obtained and any of these could be used in combination with one another. Ii the Public 'forks Department is to be responsible for an ongoing pro -active program, it would be our goal to have a release for all properties subject to graffiti. 1. Part-time City employee - A part-time employee could be used, going door-to-door. The working hours of this employee would have to be set other than the standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to reach those people who work. It is important that this employee be bilingual. 2. Volunteers - An effort could be made to get volunteers to go door-to-door to obtain releases. As mentioned at the Council .meeting, there are many senior citizens who might be willing to do this. There are also service clubs and civic organizations whose members may want to make this a project. It would also be helpful if some of these volunteers were also bilingual. 3. Mass mailing - A mass mailing could be sent to all property owners in the areas most affected by graffiti. This mailing should include information on the graffiti ordinance as well as a release form. An addressed envelope could be included to make it easier for owners to return it to the City. Our Finance Department could produce the mailing labels. 4. Neighborhood Watch Program - The releases could be given to all Neighborhood Watch captains so they could get signed releases from their group members as well as their surrounding neighborhood. 5. Police Explorers - The Police Explorers could be used similar to part-time City employees. Public Relations It is important that this program be kept in the public eye. It wi;l be necessary to advertise in the paper similar to what the City of Modesto has done. We will put an information board in the lobby at City Hall which reminds people to sign the release and also to report graffiti locations. The Cit Newsletter should also be used. Bulletins could be sent to service clubs, as well as to tt a Chamber of Commerce, asking that they remind their members to sign releases and report graffiti. We could also use the public service announcement spots provided by Cable TV and local radio stations. As suggested at the last Council meeting, stores selling spray paint should be notified of the ordinance and their responsibilities under the ordinance. The City could make signs available to these stores for posting. A package similar to the No Smoking Ordinance package could be prepared. CGRAFFIT/TXTW.02M (CO.COM) February 26, 1992 Report on Graffiti Abatement March 4, 1992 Page 4 Funding The Community Development Department has confirmed that we can use Community ' Development Block Grant funds for an ongoing graffiti abatement program in the area eligible for these funds. It is our feeling that over 90% of the graffiti is presently found in this area. A map showing this area is attached as Exhibit 0. These funds can only be used for manpower if the worker is a full-time or contract City employee. We could not hire an employee from a service agency. These funds can also be used for materials, equipment a;:d public relations. The Community Development Block Grant Fund projects for 1992-93 are currently being formalized. These projects will be presented for approval to the City Council in April. The money will become available on July 1, 1992. Any work on the graffiti abatement program between now and July 1, 1992 must be funded with City dollars. It is possible that service clubs and other -organizations may be willing to contribute money to be used for newspaper advertising and informational material once the program is up and running. Recommendation Since Community Development Block Grant funds could be provided for an ongoing program and if the Council desires the City to become involved in a pro -active graffiti program, it is our recommendation that the City. Council approval and fund Alternate 1. At the end of the initial trial period, we feel we would see a significant decrease in graffiti City-wide and we would have an employee fully trained in graffiti removal. It would be in the City's best interest to then transition this trained part-time employee into a contract employee whose position would be funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. :t is also our recommendation that the Council appropriate a total of $9,000.00 to cover the cost of Alternate 1 and money needed for the public relations segment of the program. FUND: The appropriation to fund this interim program could be made out of the City's Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, since one oft eligible expenditure categories for this fund is for City beau�41`i ation. JaL. Ronsko Pub is Works Director Prepared by Sharon Blaufus, Administrative Assistant JLR/SB/1m Attachments cc: Arthur Price Graffiti Abatement Service Poiice Department Street Superintendent ?5. 1992 GRAFFITI ABATII10:T'SERV ICE 9= Crn.MIA STREP. LODI, CALIF. 95240 % 3� F=:•F=:UF'aO S At_ AND C_—a"_ -aAt_-T DATE; ! - 1 3- jk T O ; OWNE.?/A+ GENT; CITY of LODI CONTRACT NUMBFR; % 5 y Z DEAR SIP.; I propose to furnish all materials and perform all labor necessary to complete the following. Start a G'rafflti'Abatement Program, by eliminating graffiti On all surfaces. I will request a aon-responsability form from any property owners as the seed arises. I. will futnish detailed r ports'on all completed objectives. I would like a 6 month contract for approximately 20 hours per month,at 30 dollars per hour. I would be very flexible on this actuate. All of the above work to be completed in a sLibstantiil and. workmanlike manner according to standard practices for the sum of 30.00 per hr, 20.1--s. per mo --for .6 mo. DOLLARS, <s30. per- hs }- Payments to be made, negotiable to the value of per cant% X: of all work completed. the entire amount of contract to be paid within, days wafter completion. Any alteration or deviation from the above specification involving extra cost of material or labor Will only be executed upon Written orders for same, and will become an extra charge. CoWkhc�.h L4 c. g130q*' Resp -fully submitted, ASI= 1—=F✓T'oc Vr4A EE You are hereby authorised to furnish all materials and labor required to :-Dmplate the work mentioned in the proposal, for which, I / We, agree to pay the amount mentioned in said proposal, and according to the terms thereof. ACCEP=' ; DATE.; #"i' 3 fA; �{-,�-- r-- �t1Q w LO do Fes+ Q Fc23 cAl 4,40 1319 WALL o 2 A- AlLo wo.Ncd 5 k a%4 13 c Cot4s, duAmO I F tv .b