 | COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release: October 7, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
Columbus City Council Announces Graffiti Removal Program
(Columbus) The Columbus City Council has unveiled a proposal to help residents and business owners fight graffiti, a plan that includes the option of removal at no cost to the property owner. The graffiti abatement initiative was arrived at after multiple community meetings and public hearings to discuss the matter. The plan will help clean graffiti as quickly as possible while holding property owners accountable if the vandalism is not removed in a timely manner.
“This plan will help fight crime and improve economic development in our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Zach M. Klein, chair of the Development Committee. “By helping residents and businesses remove this blight in a reasonable, cost effective manner, we are helping to build a safer, more business friendly Columbus.”
The City Council proposal will do two things – add “failure to control graffiti” to the municipal code and require all property owners to remove graffiti within 30 days of receiving a notice from code enforcement. The property owner will have the option of removing the vandalism themselves or signing a waiver to allow a city contractor to remove the graffiti at no cost to the property owner.
“Our goal with this legislation is to provide a way to remove the graffiti quickly in a way that is not punitive to the property owner, who already has been a victim of crime,” said Councilmember Michelle M. Mills, chair of the Safety and Judiciary Committee. “Numerous studies have shown the faster graffiti is removed, the less likely it is to reappear.”
Residents and business owners can report graffiti to the city’s 311 call center or by using the MyColumbus app for their mobile phone or tablet device. The City of Columbus will competitively bid for removal services and require companies to photograph, geo-tag and share photos with the City Attorney’s office to add in prosecution efforts.
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