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Home My WebLink About05/11/2004 Adjourned Meeting 22 1 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 11, 2004 - 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Neil McClure, Mary Place, Bernard Sims, and Susan Whitman Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Sam Granato, Police Chief; Police Lt. Steve Finch; Police Captain Rod Light; Bill Cobabe, Neighborhood Development Services Manager; and City Clerk Roberts Absent: Dave Edler 2. Study Session on Gangs and Graffiti Police Chief Granato reported that last January he started a Gang Enforcement Unit consisting of one sergeant and six officers. He spoke about the accomplishments the Gang Unit has achieved in such a short period of time. The Police Department is partnering with other city divisions to combat graffiti, including gang graffiti, which is the most offensive to the community. Lt. Steve Finch noted that Council was provided with a report he and Sgt. Salinas prepared. Staff is creating a database that will make it easier to find gang members due to the information we will have available on them. The Gang Enforcement Team (GET) recently attended training back east. The team members work with detectives and patrol officers investigating crimes and share information on gang members and what to look for with them. One of the goals of GET is prevention by working closely with the School Resource Officers in the schools. He responded to Council's questions regarding tagging and profiles of gang members, and advised Council that citizens should contact GET if they are targeted. Bill Cobabe spoke about his goal to eliminate graffiti and about beginning the Paint Out Graffiti program. The success of that original month -long program has evolved into painting out graffiti in the summer and fall using CDBG money to hire temporary help. The newly acquired van obtained in partnership with Public Works and Transit was available for viewing outside. It will be outfitted with a trailer to transport a sprayer and generator and we will utilize trustees from the jail to operate it. He spoke about the graffiti task force that was formed and their desire to make changes . to the current graffiti ordinance Since they started a daily paint out effort, they estimate they have painted over 7,000 locations, returning to some places more than once. With the new partnership, they can get to more areas. They have used 2,000 gallons of paint, 900 volunteer hours, and an estimated total donation of material, equipment, and time in excess of $34,000 in value, exceeding the CDBG funding for this program. The County landfill gets paint for disposal and gives it to us. The Police Department, in partnership with us, is contributing funds this year towards the 2.22 MAY 11, 2004 — ADJOURNED MEETING salary of a permanent position in ONDS to paint out graffiti Next year the position will be fully funded through ONDS. He replied to Council's questions regarding the areas covered (citywide), the colors used in the program (as neutral as possible), and the homeowner's permission (ongoing blanket permission slip). Jim Beckett, committee member, named the other committee members, and then read from a report that he submitted. The committee started meeting in the beginning of 2003. The new ordinance helps, but it falls short of fully addressing the issue. The committee is reviewing other entities' ordinances and working with the Police Department to see what should be added to the ordinance. One section of the ordinance that should be eliminated is the requirement that the offender clean up their graffiti; usually the property owner doesn't want them on their property. Captain Rod Light supported the new paint -out program. He stated that two inmates would be assigned to the graffiti crew for 2 -4 days a week. Our corrections officer will work with the graffiti staff member to learn the route and what needs to be done. He explained the funding source that will be used for this program; a savings from the money set aside for the Sunnyside jail contract. Chief Granato commented that communities that have been successful in fighting graffiti use a multi -prong tool. We will work with the youth encouraging them to take other avenues for their energies, and punish the ones committing the crimes. He suggested that we would need to restrict access to spray paint in the community. Because 73% of the arrests are juveniles, he will ask Legal to draft another ordinance instituting a juvenile curfew. We can arrest someone for possession of a graffiti implement if we can prove it was being used in a crime whether they are an adult or youth. • Audience Participation Dick Schneider, Gleed Fire Department member, spoke about a program initiated in Gleed to paint out graffiti. They use a retired fire command vehicle in their program, volunteers, community service workers, and utilize paint from the Yakima County landfill. Any needed supplies for the program are purchased by the Fire Department. Larry Tadlock, Yakima resident and member of the Landlord Association, encouraged Council to include consequences for these activities in the ordinance. He complimented the citizen committee for their efforts and suggested his association may be willing to assist. Freya Burgstaller commented that graffiti is not the only indication of gangs in the community; there are other signs. Susan Erickson pointed out three things that would help the graffiti problem: 1) Awareness - educate people that graffiti is a crime; put it on billboards, have programs in the schools with essay and poster contests, and do a video by high school students showing a neighborhood that is clean compared to one that has graffiti and trash. Do art walls for kids to do their artwork and once a month paint it out and do more artwork. 2) Prosecute people and put tougher laws out there. Spray paint should be looked at the same way as a gun. Put pressure on the criminal, not the victim. 2 223 MAY 11, 2004— ADJOURNED MEETING 3) Eradicate the graffiti; paint it out within 24 hours. Establish a Graffiti Hotline and put the number in the phone book'under City listings and under "G ". Encourage retailers to volunteer to not sell graffiti implements to minors, or pass a law that does that. She encouraged Council to promote zero tolerance for graffiti. She indicated interest in serving on the citizen committee. Jim Beckett suggested that consideration be given to confiscating vehicles, bikes or other modes of transportation used during the commission of a graffiti incident. Chief Granato reported that the City could impound a vehicle, but not confiscate it; that would have to done through the State. • Conclusion City Manager Zais stated that staff would Tike to present the proposed ordinance at the next Council business meeting for formal action as a budget appropriation. It was the consensus of the Council to bring this issue to the Council for action at the next meeting. 3. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY Z i -4 !4e4 7 ...7.1 4 Z4 `� COU► CIL MEMB- DATE COU CI EMBER DATE ATTEST: a_to 1 2 CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 1 3