DATE: August 6, 2002
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Fighting Back Against Graffiti

SUMMARY:
Reference
The County of San Diego currently removes graffiti on County maintained roads, facilities and structures. Businesses, homeowners and renters are left with the responsibility of cleaning up graffiti on their own. Many residents and businesses give up trying to clean up the graffiti after being repeatedly vandalized.

Today's action directs the Chief Administrative Officer, while working with County Counsel and appropriate County departments, to draft a graffiti abatement ordinance for consideration by the Board of Supervisors within 45 days. This action also directs the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a graffiti abatement program in the unincorporated area and report back to the Board within 45 days.

Recommendations
Supervisor Dianne Jacob
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer, while working with County Counsel and appropriate County departments, to draft a graffiti abatement ordinance for consideration by the Board within 45 days.

2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a graffiti abatement program in the unincorporated area and report back to the Board within 45 days.

Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request.

BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego currently removes graffiti on County maintained roads, facilities and structures. Businesses, homeowners and renters are left with the responsibility of cleaning up graffiti on their own. Many homeowners and business owners give up trying to clean up the graffiti after being repeatedly vandalized. Graffiti needs to be eliminated as soon as it goes up. The longer it stays up, the more likely the area will be repeatedly vandalized.

The City of San Diego has a graffiti abatement ordinance and a graffiti control program. A similar program needs to be established in the unincorporated area of San Diego County so that neighborhoods are no longer plagued with graffiti vandalism. County Code Enforcement currently has no ability to require a property owner to remove graffiti. It is imperative that we not only compel property owners to clean up their property, but we also give them a resource for help with removing graffiti or painting it over. Residents would be able to address the problem on their own or utilize the County program for a nominal charge. Public resources, volunteer programs and private partnerships should be considered for inclusion in the program.

Today's action directs the Chief Administrative Officer, while working with County Counsel and appropriate County departments, to draft a graffiti abatement ordinance for consideration by the Board of Supervisors within 45 days. This action also directs the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a graffiti abatement program in the unincorporated area and report back to the Board within 45 days. I urge your support.

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District