ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 1, 1998

Author/Local: D.Brynildsen/7313

CC File No. 3501

TO:		Vancouver City Council
FROM:		General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:		Graffiti Removal Program

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve a three year Graffiti Removal Vehicle Program;

B.THAT Council approve the creation of a new position to operate the vehicle, the classification to be reviewed by the General Manager of Human Resources in six months. In the interim a qualified CUPE 1004 Trades Painter, currently laid off, would be hired;

C.THAT Council accept sponsorships to fund this new Program and authorize staff to pursue additional sponsors; and

D.THAT the General Manager of Engineering Services report back after one year on the success of the Graffiti Removal Program.

PURPOSE

This report follows the recommendation approved by Council when dealing with the Keep Vancouver Spectacular 1998 report that the General Manger of Engineering Services report back on the acquisition and operation of a Graffiti Removal Vehicle through sponsorship and City funding. The purpose of the proposed Removal Program is to improve the City’s capability for graffiti removal.

BACKGROUND

For several years the City has had a Graffiti Abatement Program. That programs annual budget of $30,000 has been utilized for education, enforcement and empowerment. For the time this program has existed, there has not been a coordinated program in place to remove graffiti. The effort given to graffiti removal by various utility companies, private property owners, City departments and non profit organizations has been performed independently on their own facilities.

The graffiti problem in Vancouver has reached a point where the existing approach is no longer sufficient or economical. Based on graffiti programs throughout North America, staff believe that coordination and consolidation of graffiti removal is a necessary step to address the growing problem.

DISCUSSION

Successful graffiti programs in other jurisdictions in North America have recognized the need to complement their education and enforcement programs with an eradication strategy. This has been achieved by introducing graffiti removal vehicles, staff for the operation of the vehicle, and a program coordinator.

The Graffiti Advisory Committee has been considering the benefits, of acquisition of a graffiti removal vehicle, for over a year. The concern had been the lack of available funding from normal City sources. Sponsors were pursued but operating costs were still prohibitive for the program envisioned. Now, the opportunity has come, through the Rotary Clubs, the Vancouver Courier, and possibly a third corporate sponsor, to implement a Removal Program with limited City funding. For the sponsors to justify their contributions, the program, as proposed, would be funded for a minimum of three years. Existing City resources will be used as much as possible to reduce costs.

Considering the amount of graffiti there is to remove, we believe that one vehicle is only capable of dealing with the public property at this time. In the future, if the program is successful, it could expand to carry out graffiti removal from other street furniture (news boxes, mail boxes, garbage containers, etc.) and possibly, private property.

Committed Sponsors

A number of sponsors have indicated interest in supporting the graffiti removal proposal. To date, two have committed to the Program.

The Rotary Clubs have offered to provide a graffiti removal vehicle as part of their Urban Peace Initiative. This offer includes the vehicle, ongoing maintenance and graffiti removal equipment. In return they are requesting that their Rotary Urban Peace logo be on the vehicle and that the vehicle be made available for community graffiti removal on weekends and perhaps evenings. During those times it would be staffed by volunteers, street youth workers, the John Howard Society, etc.

The Vancouver Courier has offered $45,000 over a three year period to support the operation of the vehicle in exchange for the advertising they will get on the vehicle and the goodwill they will receive as sponsors of this program.

These sponsors have committed in writing to funding various aspects of the Program. The details and formal agreements for the proposed three year program will be completed if this report is approved.

Staff Resources

The role of the coordinator in this type of program, is to oversee the entire program from taking in complaints to managing the graffiti removal staff. Due to the limited funding available at this time, it is proposed that the coordination of this program initially be done by existing City staff. Engineering Services and Park Board staff will take complaints, pursue additional sponsorships, develop a work program, and manage the graffiti vehicle operations.

The new position of Trades Painter (or classification determined by Human Resources) is required to operate the vehicle and carry out the physical removal activity. The position would work a five day week, Tuesday to Saturday. The annual cost for this position would be a maximum of $69,400.

Recently, three staff in the City’s Traffic Sign Shop, including a Trades Painter, were laid off because of a reduction in work load. It would be appropriate to re-hire one of these individuals into this position, or create another classification which meets the job requirements as determined by the General Manager of Human Resources. Initial discussions with the Union support this direction and agreement on an adjustment in the hours of work should be possible.

It is proposed that one of the two existing Poster Removal staff be reassigned from Tuesday to Friday to the graffiti removal vehicle for labour support. In the past few years, the resources for poster removal have increased with the implementation of the graduated return to work program for injured workers. This program is expected to continue and poster removal will not be seriously affected.

Work Program

If approved, existing staff will finalize agreements with sponsors, hire the trades painter, and prepare the work program for the graffiti removal vehicle in consultation with the sponsors, and City staff currently carrying out their own removal.

It is proposed that the graffiti removal vehicle operate up to 7 days per week. One scenario could be as follows:

- Monday, Parks Board staff would carry out park related graffiti removal;

-Tuesday to Friday, the Engineering Services painter and labourer would carry out graffiti removal from public streets;

- Saturday, the painter would operate the vehicle with youth support staff; and

-Sunday, and possibly evenings, the vehicle could be available for Rotary Club use with volunteers.

The first task will be to respond to the demands of Keep Vancouver Spectacular.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The following summarizes the financing strategy to achieve the Graffiti Vehicle Removal Program.

Expenditures

The coordination of the Program and labour support for the removal operation will be done with existing staff resources. The vehicle is supplied and maintained through sponsorship from the Rotary Clubs. The operating costs for the vehicle are:

Vehicle Operator/Painter $69,400 (Maximum, including fringe benefits)

Supplies 24,000

General Expenses 3,600

Annual Cost $97,000

Revenues

As previously mentioned, City forces are presently involved in some graffiti removal. Discussions have identified that funds in the amount of $47,000 can be redirected from various Engineering Branches to this program. Other public agencies have agreed tocontribute an additional $33,000 to this program ($12,000 from Park Board and $21,000 from the Vancouver Parking Corporation). The Vancouver Courier sponsorship will provide $15,000 per year for three years to the operating costs. A tabulated summary of revenues follows:

Engineering Branches $47,000

Other Public Agencies 33,000

Vancouver Courier 15,000

Annual Revenue $95,000

Revenue of $95,000 less operating costs of $97,000 leaves a shortfall of $2,000. This funding will be allocated from the existing Graffiti Budget for 1998 and may be offset by sponsorship in future years.

CONCLUSION

The graffiti problem in Vancouver has reached a level where we need to move beyond encouragement to actual removal. Several jurisdictions in North America have taken this step and have experienced success in reducing the graffiti on the streets. A three year Graffiti Removal Vehicle Program, through sponsorships, and existing resource reallocations is recommended for approval.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver