CC - Item 5A - Update the City Council on the City of Rosemead's Graffiti Mitigation Program E M
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kp el ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
. a V c'V'c` R¢°E STAFF REPORT
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TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GLORIA MOLLEDA, CITY MANAGER 0
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DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2021
SUBJECT: UPDATE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD'S
GRAFFITI MITIGATION PROGRAM
SUMMARY
At the December 8,2020, City of Rosemead City Council Meeting,the City Council discussed the
City's Graffiti Mitigation Program.The City Council requested that staff return to the City Council
with an update on the program.
DISCUSSION
There were three distinct areas of discussion at the December 8, 2020, City Council Meeting: the
City of Rosemead's Graffiti Mitigation Program, how the City of Rosemead communicates gang
related graffiti to the Sheriff's Department, and how communication is administered to Caltrans as
it relates to Caltrans property that is tagged within the City of Rosemead.
Graffiti Mitigation
Currently, the City of Rosemead has two routes that staff proactively monitor for graffiti every
day. These routes cover all the major arterials in the City as well as known hotspots for graffiti
activity. This is part of the overall graffiti program that includes residents and City staff reporting
graffiti. Residents, City staff, Recreation, Public Services and Public Safety all use our City
application (Go Request) or our telephone hotline to report graffiti as they carry out their daily
routines. Public Services staff take before and after pictures of the graffiti on a tablet, which also
records the location,material,and hours that it took to remove.All the data is stored in the program
and the information is accessible by all City staff.
In Fiscal Year 2020-21 staff has already removed graffiti from 1,438 locations, with five months
remaining in the current fiscal year. The quantity removed in the current year is three times the
amount removed in previous fiscal years. Based on the workload most of the graffiti is removed
within hours. The Department goal is to remove 90% of the graffiti in 24 hours which aligns with
City Council goals.
AGENDA ITEM 5.A
City Council Meeting
February 9,2021
Page 2 of 3
Communication with the Sheriff's Department
During the December 8th' City Council meeting, Mayor Armenta had inquired as to whether City
staff shares pictures of graffiti with the Sheriff's Department.After investigation,it was discovered
that the polaroid album had been discontinued many years ago. Rather than using the album, the
Sheriff's Department would request a specific picture of a tagged location to aid in the prosecution
of an arrested suspect.
City staff has met with Police Chief Tony Duong, and in the future,the Sheriff's Department will
have access to every generated CRM that relates to gang/tagging graffiti. The Public Services
Division will email Chief Duong on a weekly basis outlining the number of graffiti locations along
with the before and after pictures. This report can be modified to help Chief Duong and his
Rosemead Team to view specific information to help recover restitution.
Communication with Caltrans
Councilmember Steven Ly inquired as to what the communication process was with Caltrans as
he noticed an uptick in graffiti on Caltrans property within the City of Rosemead City limits.
Additionally, his observation was that the graffiti was not mitigated within a reasonable time
frame. On February 3, 2021, a phone meeting was arranged with representatives from Caltrans,
Mayor Pro Tern Polly Low, City Manager Gloria Molleda, and Director of Public Works
Chris Daste to discuss graffiti as it relates to the City of Rosemead, the communication processes
relating to graffiti and ways to have affected areas mitigated more quickly.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council review and comment on this report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None.
STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
Graffiti abatement is within Strategy 3, Beautification and Infrastructure, which states "Continue
efforts to enhance the condition and general appearance of the City's public infrastructure and
public right-of-way as well as private properties within the community."
City Council Meeting
February 9,2021
Page 3 of 3
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Submitted by:
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Chris Daste
Director of Public Works