(a)
The city council enacts this article to help prevent the spread of graffiti vandalism and to facilitate removal of graffiti from public and private property.
(b)
The council finds that graffiti is a public nuisance and destructive of the rights and values of property owners and the entire community. Unless the city acts to remove graffiti from public and private property, the graffiti tends to remain. Other properties then become the target of graffiti and entire neighborhoods are infected and become less desirable places in which to live and support families. Graffiti erodes property values, which reduces the critical tax base. Graffiti intimidates citizens and promotes a lawbreaking environment.
(c)
The council finds that existing law is inadequate to combat graffiti in the city. This article is intended to provide additional enforcement tools to protect public and private property from graffiti, and shall not be construed to conflict with existing state laws.
(Ordinance 911, sec. 2, adopted 12/11/95)