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GRAFFITI MANAGEMENT

STRATEGY

March 2007

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Presentation Outline

• History and Culture of Graffiti

• Graffiti Management Program 2003-2006

• Identified Gaps and Proposed Approaches

• Next Steps

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Background

• July 24, 2002 - City Council approved the implementation of a sustained graffiti management program

• Applies to all property and infrastructure managed by the City directly or indirectly

• Surface Operations Branch coordinates the Program• In partnership with By-law and Regulatory Services

and Ottawa Police Service

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Graffiti Impacts• Left unchecked, graffiti

spreads rapidly, leads to ‘broken window’ syndrome.

• People think nobody cares… nobody’s in control.

• Discourages business and shopping.

• Poses threat, and in some cases, causes fear.

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Profile of a Tagger

• Taggers come from a variety of different cultural and economic backgrounds

• Their make up is predominantly males in their early teens to mid twenties

• They share a common denominator which is the desire for fame and recognition within the sub-culture. The greatest fame goes to the taggers with the most numerous, long lasting and difficult tags

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Profile of a Tagger con’t

• The culture is based primarily on two principals: o “To Get Up” which means to place as many tags as

possible, and

o “To Keep It Real” which means to keep it illegal

• Taggers do not respect the law, they thrive on the adrenaline rush of the risk involved when doing it illegally

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Tagger Graffiti Today• Tagger graffiti and its culture has grown to an

international level

• Taggers can photograph and post their graffiti on web sites around the world

• Graffiti websites provide information about the culture as well as information as to what products can be used or mixed to cause permanent damage

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Tagger graffiti styles• Tag – the tagger’s stylized personal

signature which take 1 to 3 seconds to put up• Throw-Up - larger than the tag. It is

comprised of bubble or balloon style letters utilizing one or two colours. It can be completed in a matter of minutes

• Masterpiece - (piece) also known as ‘wildstyle’. It consists of interlocking letters and arrows, uses multiple colours and is the hardest style to master. A large masterpiece can take several hours or even days to complete

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The 4E’s of Graffiti

The components of the Graffiti Management Strategy are:• Eradication:

– Removing graffiti quickly and efficiently.• Empowerment:

– Maximizing use of available resources and relationships.• Education:

– Building awareness about how to prevent and remove graffiti.

• Enforcement:– Applying municipal and penal code laws when necessary.

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Eradication• City’s Graffiti Removal Crew & contractors provide

services to Council approved standards:o 24-hour city-wide response -remove hate, racist &

offensive graffiti.o 5 zero tolerance areas (downtown core, Rideau-Vanier,

Glebe, Westboro and Britannia);

Zero Tolerance Zones:o Areas of the City where graffiti is concentrated o City crew proactively patrols and removes graffiti

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Eradication• Centralized reporting process through the Call centre

(311).

• The Graffiti Removal Crew utilizes:

o Environmentally responsible cleaning agents and methods

o Continuously experiment with new products and procedures

o Investigates and utilizes 'anti-graffiti' technology

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Empowerment

• Community involvement in graffiti prevention and removal– Spring / Fall Cleaning the Capital– Green Partnership Program grants– Community monitoring and reporting

• Internal and External Stakeholder Committees

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Internal Stakeholders• Public Works &

Services • Community and

Protective Services • Ottawa Police Service• City Manager’s Office • Corporate Services • Planning, Transit &

Environment

External Stakeholders• City: Public Works and

Services, By-law & Regulatory Services, Ottawa Police Service

• Government: NCC, PWGSC, MTO

• Business• School boards• Community Associations• Utilities / Canada Post• Print Media

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Enforcement• In Ottawa, graffiti is grouped under vandalism

laws in the Criminal Code, and the charge is “Mischief under or over $5000”

• Enhanced vigilance assists with the apprehension of graffiti vandals

• Each item of graffiti removed by City crews is photographed and a database of records is kept.

• Information is shared with Ottawa Police Services to assist with enforcement activities

• 5 Ottawa by-laws make reference to unsightly markings, with charges laid under the Provincial Offences Act.

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Education• Sharing information about:

– the cost of graffiti vandalism – ways to prevent it– the impact of graffiti– how to report and remove

unwanted graffiti• Ottawa Police Service

brochure on graffiti.• City’s website

(www.ottawa.ca)

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Orleans Pilot Project• Ottawa Police Service piloted a zero tolerance

project in Orleans in 2005 and 2006 • proven that implementing the 4 E’s together is

effective way to counter graffiti.• In 2005, 72% of the vandalized assets remained

clean of graffiti due to implementation of a comprehensive action plan.

• In 2006, 87%  reduction in visible graffiti.

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Identified GapsCouncillor Holmes’ motion – June 2006• Consideration of a graffiti by-law• Increased proactive measures rather than reactive

programming• Limit barriers that reduce the effectiveness of

reporting of graffiti• Develop a support network for private sector (home

owners and small businesses)• Consider diversion methods as a means to reduce

graffiti occurrence.

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Proposed Approaches

• Key issues being reviewed by staff include….– Review of zero tolerance zones

– Efficient use of City’s graffiti removal crew, contractors, and volunteers for eradication

– Additional educational initiatives

– Tools for private and business property owners– Implement lessons learned from Orleans Pilot Project– Proposed stand alone graffiti by-law

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Proposed Zero-Tolerance Zones

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Efficient Use of City, Contract, and Volunteer Resources

• Staff will look for innovative ways to engage:– graffiti removal contractors– Volunteers and Community Associations– City staff and services– External partners and stakeholders

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Additional Education Initiatives• Public awareness campaign with special emphasis

on reaching students and youth• Investigate partnerships with youth organizations• Enhanced profile of graffiti in City programs such

as Spring-Clean-the-Capital, and Adopt-a-Park/Road

• Partnerships with media to more effectively promote graffiti messages

• Highlight opportunities for artistic diversion

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Tools for Private and Business Property Owners

• City’s website will be expanded to include:– impacts of graffiti,

– tips for preventing graffiti and guidelines for effective graffiti removal

– tips for parents who are suspicious of their children being involved in graffiti

– lists of available graffiti product vendors and removal companies

– citizen reporting of graffiti (including online reporting option)

– registration of mural artists and properties available for murals.

• Graffiti Symposium

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Implement lessons learned from Orleans Pilot Project

• Lessons learned have been identified and will be considered in all areas of the Graffiti Management Strategy

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Proposed Graffiti By-law

• Definition – excludes mural signs

• General prohibition

• Removal within time period specified in notice but no sooner than 7 days

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Next Steps

• Written comments– to Leslie Vanclief before April 2nd

– Leslie.Vanclief@ottawa.ca

– Fax: 613-580-9605

• May - Report to Committee

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Thank-youThank-you