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Graffiti Abatement Program

The Graffiti Abatement Program is managed by the Buildings Division of the Parks and Recreation

Department. Graffiti Hotline phone number: 713-4451.

Hotline Calls In FY 2010/11 there were 3,110 calls received. In FY 2011/12 there were 2,493 calls received.

Square Footage Removed 2010/11 2011/12 702,790 citywide 431,642 citywide 138,000 com’ty projects 33,600 com’ty projects

Methods used to cover graffiti Cleaners, Power Wash, Abrasive Media blast, Paint

Graffiti Maintenance Workers Four hourly employees @ 1000 hours each (Variable Work Schedule, 20 hrs each, 7 days a week) Graffiti Abatement Program Coordinator One hourly employee at 1000 hours (20 hours a week).

Resources Two 1-ton trucks Two Pressure Washers One Abrasive Media blast machine

Graffiti Coordinator

� Communicates with public in response to Graffiti Hotline calls � Collaborates with private home owners and business owners to remove graffiti on their property � Collaborates with volunteers that assist in covering up minor graffiti within the community � Attends monthly meetings of the SMART (Neighborhood Preservation) Committee � Promote community awareness of program – August Visalia National Night Out/attended 6 events

The following are involved in the abatement program:

• City of Visalia Code Enforcement • Traffic Division • Public Works • Police and Fire Departments • Visalia Unified School District • County of Tulare (outlying areas) HOTLINE: 624-7060

• Tulare County Sheriff Department Gang Unit volunteer Graffiti removal program

Additional Community Efforts

Downtown Visalians removes graffiti � North to School Street, South to Mineral King � West to Johnson, East to Santa Fe

Collaborations with Property Managers

� Visalia Malls � Packwood/Cameron Creek Mall � Staples/Sizzlers Mall � Office Depot Mall

� Armstrong Property � Evans Property � Kaweah Rental Properties � Assets Management

CITY OF VISALIA Graffiti Abatement Program Annual Report

Fiscal Years 2010-12

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Collaborations with other Entities � California Water Company removes graffiti from water facilities; fire hydrants

� Cal-Trans removes graffiti on highway jurisdictions

Collaboration with City of Visalia Code Enforcement

� Covered 11,330 square feet on 19 properties for FY 2010-2011 & FY 2011-12

Collaboration with City of Visalia Police Department

� Covered 130,810 square feet over 20 incidents/20 arrests with $19,157 in restitution � Restitutions received for FY 2010-11 & 2011-12 $9,175

Collaboration with concerned citizens who work at promoting Graffiti Program awareness

There are 16 volunteers citywide. Two recognized outstanding volunteers Bill Huott and Madeline Richardson with Ray Palomino

Volunteer Efforts � The following volunteers assist in the removal of graffiti within their neighborhoods: Bill Huott,

Madeline Richardson, Bill Shearer, Warren Sargeant, Brian Kempf, John & Rhonda Mendes, Rose Montoya, Colin Moore, Jay Salmon, Matt Johnson, Susan Morabo, George Sandoval, Melissa Tracy, Joe Cote

� Make a Difference Day in October 2011– 2 locations (Plaza Park) (Santa Fe/Houston) with over 100 volunteers, 4 maintenance workers, covered over 106,000 Square feet on block walls and park tables

� Visalia Christian School Clean Up Day March 2011 – 2 locations with 33 volunteers, 4 maintenance workers covered – 32,000 square feet and Gateway Church group in April 2012 cleaned alleyway behind Mt Whitney High School – 9 volunteers, 3600 square feet

Make a Difference Day

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Thank you and Appreciation expressed: “Your staff did a good job cleaning up bad graffiti on our sidewalk; they are very fine men and were very polite.” Judy White “I was already aware of the fantastic job done by the graffiti abatement workers, but I saw firsthand the work performed and the care taken in the removal of graffiti on property that we requested Graffiti Abatement assistance for Code Enforcement.” Tracy Robertshaw, Code Enforcement Officer

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Fiscal Year 2010-11 2011-12

Hours worked 3,748 2,970

Sq. Ft. Removed or covered 840,790 465,242

Number of calls and Police Requests 3110 2,493

Orders Issued 2,604 2,348

Citywide Graffiti Removal (Sq. Feet) 702,790 431,642

Community Projects (Sq Feet) 138,000 33,600

Visalia Christian School

MARK, ELISEO, ALBERT, GALEN

Gateway Church Group