Report
to/Rapport au :
Emergency and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services de protection et
d'urgence
Submitted by/Soumis par : Councillor/Conseillère Diane
Holmes (Ward/quartier 14)
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Diane Holmes ,Councillor/Conseillère - Somerset
(613) 580-2484, Diane.Holmes@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Emergency and Protective Services Committee direct staff to investigate and enhance the current Graffiti Management Strategy so as to incorporate best practices from other Canadian Cities, address gaps, set out performance standards for the timely removal of Graffiti from both Public and Private property and as well develop a network to help both property owners and businesses deal with the associated costs of removal.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services de protection et
d'urgence donne instruction au personnel d'effectuer une recherche et
d'élaborer une stratégie globale de gestion des graffitis qui tienne compte des
pratiques exemplaires des autres villes canadiennes; fixe des normes de
rendement pour l'enlèvement rapide des graffitis sur les propriétés publiques
et privées; et donne lieu à l'établissement d'un réseau destiné à aider les
propriétaires et les entreprises à faire face aux coûts liés à l'enlèvement des
graffitis.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to Section 74 (12) of the Procedure By-law, Councillor Holmes requested on 9 May 2006 that this item be placed on the Emergency and Protective Services Committee Agenda for its 8 June 2006 meeting.
The current City graffiti
management program defines graffiti as the etching, painting, covering or
otherwise placing of a mark on public or private property. When any type of
graffiti is placed on public or private property without the permission of the
owner, it is considered an act of vandalism and is against the law.
According to the current
program the most common type of graffiti in the Ottawa area is
"tagging". It is the writing, painting or "bombing" of an
identifiable symbolic character or "tag" that may or may not contain
letters. Other types of graffiti are: artistic, hate-based, personalized,
political and profane.
Graffiti can be found almost
everywhere - in the downtown core, suburban neighbourhoods and rural
communities. It exists on many surfaces including bridges, buildings, walls,
utility boxes, mailboxes, vehicles, and in parks.
Graffiti vandalism is not a victimless
crime. When graffiti is left to spread in the community it can leave the
impression that nobody cares or that nobody is in control. This is called the
"broken window" syndrome. When graffiti is allowed to spread it can
harm economic development and can lead to further disorder and more significant
crime to property. Unwanted graffiti defaces the surface of the vandalized
property. Removal of graffiti is expensive and may cause damage to the original
surface.
BEST PRATICES FROM OTHER
CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
Currently other Canadian
Cities, namely Calgary, London, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Victoria have
comprehensive Graffiti Management Strategies. Key components of these
strategies include but are not limited to:
Key Contact Lists for
reporting Graffiti to the appropriate stakeholders
Tips for Preventing Graffiti
Minimum performance standards
for the timely removal of graffiti from both public and private spaces
Partnerships with local paint
supply stores to provide discounts and colour match paints to persons or
businesses who fall victim to graffiti
Tips and guides for effective
graffiti removal, as well as lists of available graffiti removal products and
companies
City graffiti hotline and
on-line websites, to report and register graffiti and tagging on public and
private property
Public Education Campaigns
Free year round graffiti
removal services
Ongoing Volunteer programs
Designated spaces for graffiti
art and murals
Comprehensive Graffiti By-laws
City By-Laws restricting the
sale of associated graffiti products to persons under the age of eighteen
Coordinated enforcement plans
between city departments (Surface Operations, Property Standards, Police
Services etc.)
Cooperation with Business
Improvement Areas
DISCUSSION
As the proliferation of graffiti has become an issue facing all wards in the city of Ottawa it is imperative at this time that the City staff enhance the current management strategy. These enhancements should incorporate aspects of the above noted best practices of other Canadian Cities. Performance standards must be created to ensure consistent and timely removal of all graffiti on City property as well as residential, commercial and industrial/utility properties. Accordingly it needs to identify and address the concerns of both property owners as well as small business owners who are burdened with the associated costs of removal and repair.
This strategy should provide citizens with tangible solutions when they contact 3-1-1 or search the website for information on reporting graffiti crimes, or what they should do when their property has been vandalized. A comprehensive database of removal companies, as well as appropriate removal method tips and products, as well as the associated retailers should be made available on-line, and to all front line call-centre employees.
At the same time a comprehensive management strategy should ensure that members of the graffiti art community are provided with designated spaces to display their work, such as the current "piece" wall located on the grounds of the old Ottawa Technical High School. A greater number of sites such as bridge abutments, city buildings and walls could be identified and designated as appropriate and manageable locations for the use of graffiti art, such as the City of Gatineau's program. Further to designation of city property for this use, partnerships should be sought with property owners throughout the city, to designate walls and buildings for murals or graffiti walls that reflect the unique and diverse make-up of the neighbourhoods and communities throughout the City.
IDENTIFIED GAPS
An enhanced management strategy needs to address the following gaps.
A Harmonized Graffiti By-law
Currently the City utilizes provisions contained within the following by-laws:
· The Property Standards By-law 2005 – 207
· The Parks and Facilities By-law 2004 – 276
· The Fence By-law 2003 – 462
· The Use of Care and Roads By-law 2003 – 498
· The Encroachment By-law 2003 – 446
Although each of the above noted By-laws are currently used to address issues pertaining to graffiti, there is no clear definition of graffiti (as is the case in other Canadian Cities); it is often referred to as either a marking or defacement. Furthermore different departmental inspectors currently enforce each of these By-laws. The current By-laws give no specific reference to markings or defacements that would be deemed as either hateful or gang related.
Reactive vs. Proactive Measures
Currently the city’s strategy utilizes reactive measures rather then proactive measures.
Understandably current funding levels hinder the ability of both By-law and Surface Operations to undertake graffiti management initiatives on a proactive basis. Despite the designation of “zero tolerance” zones (The Glebe, Westboro, Vanier, Britannia and the Albert - Slater Corridor) the majority of the city is required to report graffiti to 311.
Reporting Graffiti
As reporting graffiti is one of the key components of any successful management program, existing barriers that limit the effectiveness of this component should be removed.
Currently all instances of reported graffiti are processed by the Call Centre. Despite the accessibility of the current call centre, residents have indicated its limitations, namely wait times. In one reported situation after a prolonged wait the caller was referred to the Yellow Pages when inquiring about tips for removal. Some Canadian Cities have included on their websites, user-friendly online reporting pages, including sections for attaching photographs of vandalized properties. Others have implemented graffiti hotlines that link the caller with qualified staff, who are trained to provide assistance with graffiti removal tips and available products.
The current policy of issuing an order to comply after graffiti is reported and its associated costs for repair has a negative impact on resident’s willingness to call and report. Incentives for reporting graffiti, such as vouchers for paint and removal products, or stockpiles of used paints (to be taken in through the take it back program) would provide residents with the tangible benefits needed to report graffiti.
Support Network for Private
Sector (home owners and small businesses)
The current strategies employed by both Ottawa Police Services and The Surface Operations Branch focus much of their energies and resources on public spaces. Although these public spaces are important to the overall appearance and resident’s perception of the city; private property owners and business members are often neglected and left to face the burden of cleanup on their own. As graffiti has begun to spill into the residential areas of the City, it is imperative that the City develops a support network for private property owners.
As is the case with residents, the BIA’s are often hesitant to report members who have been victimized due to the associated costs of repair. This strategy must create conditions for the BIA members that would eliminate the current barriers and increase their willingness to report. New programs and partnerships with the BIA’s should be investigated, including programs such as purchase of service agreements that would utilize city equipment and staff to cleanup and improve the overall appearance of their streetscapes.
CONSULTATION
Staff pursuant to the report recommendation will undertake consultation. Preliminary consultation was undertaken with Public Works and Services Department, Surface Operations Branch and Community and Protective Services Department, By-law Services Branch. Detailed comments are attached as Documents 1 and 2.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Financial implications should be determined and addressed in the staff report.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1: Preliminary Comments - Surface Operations Branch (PWS)
Document 2: Preliminary Comments - By-law Services Branch (CPS)
Document 3: City of Calgary – Graffiti Management Program
Document 4: City of London – Graffiti Implements By-law
Document 5: City of Ottawa - Property Standards By-law 2005 -207
Document 6: City of Toronto - Graffiti Abatement Program
Document 7: City of Winnipeg - Graffiti Removal Service
Document 8: City of Victoria - Anti Graffiti Program
Document 9: Graffiti Examples
DISPOSITION
Due to the regulatory implications, Community and Protective Services Department, By-law Services Branch will lead the review and take appropriate direction with a report back to Standing Committee. As requested by Councillor Holmes, staff will also undertake further consultation with the following:
City of Ottawa - By-law Services Branch
City of Ottawa - Real Property and Asset Management Branch
City of Ottawa - Surface Operations Branch
Ottawa Police Services
Business Advisory Committee
Business Improvement Areas
Community Associations
Public Schools
Services requiring encroachment permits - Vending Boxes, Recycling & Garbage Containers
Utilities - Bell, Hydro Ottawa, Canada Post, Traffic Signs
Surface
Operations Branch DOCUMENT
1
GRAFFITI MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Ottawa
City Council fully supports the Department of Public Works and Services Graffiti
Management Strategy and recognizes the value of proactive graffiti abatement
activities as a means to enhance the quality and viability of the community and
counteract the ultimately devastating consequences this form of vandalism can
have on the city.
Ottawa's Graffiti Management Strategy is based
on the successful “4E” (Eradication, Empowerment, Enforcement, Education) model
and a comprehensive program with centralized coordination by PWS with other
City Departments and Ottawa Police Services and through partnerships with the
private sector businesses, graffiti and mural artists, as well as
representatives from community and homeowner associations.
The nucleus for the graffiti management
activities is the “eradication” component of the 4E model. The Surface
Operations Branch, with its Ottawa Police Services partner, have developed a
centralized approach to managing graffiti and have put in place the foundation
for a long-term, sustained program, drawing on shared resources and their
existing relationships to ensure all reported incidents of hate graffiti
brought are attended to within a 24/hr period, regardless of asset.
Centralize graffiti management activities in
PWS, in conjunction with graffiti abatement services provided by other City
Departments jointly result in an estimated expenditure in the order of $400,000
annually to remove graffiti from City facilities and infrastructure (PWS:
$225,000; Corporate Services: $175,000).
To further support the PWS Department in the ongoing provision of graffiti
abatement and management activities as part of the 2003 budget process Council
approved enhancements to the level of graffiti services on City right-of-way
assets by allocating an additional $65,000 for graffiti removal on traffic
control boxes and an additional $120,000 on concrete surfaces with activities
to be focused within established "Zero Tolerance areas", bringing the
total funding for graffiti removal to an estimated $585,000. The collective positive spin-off of enhanced
efforts to combat graffiti included agreement by Hydro Ottawa to participate as
a member of the Graffiti Management Program and cooperate in City-led
initiatives, including diligent graffiti removal on Hydro assets in the Zero
Tolerance locations as well as a renewed commitment by the Ottawa Police
Service to increase focus on enforcement and education activities.
Great progress has been made through extensive
collaboration on both the Internal Stakeholder Committee composed of
representatives of PWS, Property Standards, Corporate Services, Transit
Services, Hydro Ottawa, CSPI, By-law Services, and the Call Centre as well as the External Stakeholder
Committee, which includes the business community (through Business Improvement
Area representatives, the Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, other governments
(National Capital Commission; Department of Public Works, Ministry of
Transport, Ontario; City of Gatineau), utilities (Bell Canada, Rogers, Hydro
One, Enbridge), residential property owners’ associations, media (Ottawa Citizen;
Ottawa Sun; Ottawa Express; Le Droit).
Residents reporting incidents of graffiti on any city-owned and private property or structure may do so through the City's Call Centre at 580-2400. Call Centre staff are integral to the City's Graffiti Management Program and have in-depth knowledge to correctly forward each graffiti request to the appropriate agency asset manager to ensure prompt service.
In addition, a number of pro-active graffiti prevention or “transformation” activities, including consideration for a mural program, alternative "legal" graffiti walls, painting of skate parks, etc have assisted to bring together communities of interest, including artists, to channel artistic expression while reducing the spread of graffiti in typically high volume areas.
GRAFFITI CHRONOLOGY
September 26, 2001 – Graffiti in the City of Ottawa
(ACS2001-CCS-TTC-0009)
- Graffiti has reached distressing levels and community has called for the City to take action
- 1999 Graffiti Removal Project recommended that the new City establish a task force to incorporate all of City’s graffiti removal efforts
- Staff directed to bring forward a strategy to Transportation Committee and Council to address graffiti:
- Current practices and procedures in removal and prevention;
- Overview of 1999 Graffiti Removal Project and its recommendations;
- Strategies to effectively deal with graffiti
July 24, 2002 - Graffiti Management Program
(ACS2002-TUP-SOP-0003)
- Background on current practices and the 1999 Ottawa Police Services Pilot;
- Graffiti; practices of other cities;
- 4E program;
- TUPW
to coordinate with other City Departments and Ottawa Police Services;
- Report
back to Committee with status of development of Graffiti Management
Strategy;
- $50,000
for a “zero tolerance” pilot in two areas of high volume graffiti;
- For 2003 Budget staff to provide options to improve maintenance
cycles to remove graffiti from City property.
January 8, 2003 – Graffiti Management – Cost Estimates for Improved Service Levels on City Right-Of-Way Assets (ACS2002-TUP-SOP-0006)
· Improved service level options presented:
o Option 1 – City-wide sweep each year - $1.525M
o Option 2 – Citywide surface treatment and cleaning twice a year - $1,906M
o Option 3 – Citywide surface treatment with regular maintenance - $3,050M
o Option 4 – selected enforcement - $400K
· Disposition – Option 4 approved for only traffic control boxes ($65,000) and concrete structures ($120,000) Total new funding = $185,000
April 9, 2003 – Graffiti Management Program
(ACS2003-TUP-SOP-0001)
· Overview of 2002 graffiti management season.
o Three objectives:
§ Understand the cost of graffiti vandalism;
§ Organize internal resources and gather information to establish service levels for 2003 through the Pilot Project.
§ Review of achievements through the 4E’s: Eradication; Empowerment; Enforcement and Education.
· Internal and External Graffiti Stakeholder Committees
· Effective use of 2003 funding:
o $185,000 of new money allotted to Traffic Control Boxes and Structures in 4 Zero Tolerance Areas: Vanier, Glebe, Westboro and Britannia.
June
11, 2003 - Maintenance Quality
Standards Roads and Sidewalks Pathways (ACS2003-TUP-SOP-0004)
- Establishes MQS 106.04 – Cleanup (Right-of-Way) Hazardous Items and Graffiti:
- Hate or violence – 24 hours response times;
- Tagging – subject to availability of resources;
- Council approved “zero-tolerance” zones in accordance with the Council directive.
August 2003 - New Mural Initiative by Community and Protective Services:
- Westboro BIA mural completed on City asset.
August 29, 2003 - Strengthened Partnership with Ottawa Police Services
- Community Officers School Liaison Committee.
September 2003 - Graffiti Management Program page activated on Ottawa.ca.
September 21, 2003 - New “legal” wall initiative:
- “ House of Paint” launched in Brewer Park Community Event
August 2004 - Graffiti Removal Services
Demo
June 2005 – Ottawa Police Services Launch Orleans Graffiti Management Pilot:
· Address the spread of graffiti through a coordinated pilot project in Orleans north
November
30, 2005 - Maintenance Quality
Standards Parks and Sports Fields (ACS2005-PWS-SOP-0009)
- Establishes MQS 206.05 – Cleanup (Parks and Sports Fields) Hazardous Items and Graffiti:
- Hate or violence – 24 hours response times;
- Tagging – subject to availability of resources;
- Council approved “zero-tolerance” zones in accordance with the Council directive.
2006
– Ottawa Police Services developing new Graffiti pamphlet
By-law Services Branch DOCUMENT
2
There are a number of by-laws in place currently that address “graffiti”, commonly referred to in these by-laws as markings or defacements.
The Property Standards By-law 2005-207, which applies to both residential and non-residential property, requires that unsightly markings, stains or other defacements on the exterior surfaces of fences, screens or other enclosures, as well as exterior surfaces of buildings and the like, be removed and that the surface be restored as nearly as possible to its original condition. The enforcement mechanism for this requirement involves the issuance of an Order to the property owner to remove the defacements, etc. Should the Order not be adhered to, the City may cause the work to be carried out and charge the costs thereof back to the property owner.
The Parks & Facilities By-law 2004-276, as part of the Asset Protection section, prohibits any person from marking or writing upon, damaging or otherwise injuring any property of the City in a park including any part of the interior or exterior of a building, or any monument, fence, bench or other structure. “Park” includes a playground, playing field, ball diamond, sports field, beach, recreation centre, community building, facility, square, garden, water, pedestrian walkway or any other area owned, leased or used by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation and includes any lane or walkway or public parking area leading thereto.
The Fence
By-law 2003-462 requires that unsightly markings, stains or other defacements on
the exterior surfaces of fences be removed and that the surface be refinished
as necessary.
The Use and Care of Roads By-law 2003-498 prohibits any person from defacing any municipal infrastructure, including but not limited to, any post, surveyor's mark, bench mark, traffic sign, highway name sign, sign board, regulatory sign, traffic signal, traffic cone, or any other traffic control device, affixed or placed on a highway.
The Encroachment By-law 2003-446
outlines specific provisions referring to graffiti and general references relating to maintenance. Specifically, it requires that a customer
service box (e.g. publication distribution or courier drop box) permit holder
at all times keep the customer service box in a clean and sanitary conditions
and free of posters, signs and graffiti.
More generally, the by-law requires an agreement for permission to
construct a permanent encroachment, which agreement includes standard
provisions regarding maintenance in a proper and safe condition. It further provides that if a waste
receptacle, tourist information directory or kiosk is not maintained in good
condition, the City can provide notice of revocation of the permit and remove
the encroachment at the expense of the permit holder if the permit holder does
not remove it voluntarily.
The Parks &
Facilities, Fence, Use and Care of Roads, and Encroachment By-laws are subject
to the standard enforcement processes.
Any
additional or new by-law, or any change in enforcement policy with respect to
the City’s existing by-laws would require additional staff resources. Staff is amenable to reviewing the existing
strategy and regulations, as well as potential enhancements, and reporting back
in that regard.
City of Calgary DOCUMENT
3
Off the Wall
Graffiti Management in
Calgary
Calgarians are dedicated to the care and upkeep of their communities.
We all share in the responsibility of keeping our city clean and safe.
Graffiti is vandalism, and therefore a crime. Graffiti
is not art, it is the defacing of property without consent from the property
owner.
The effects of graffiti are felt by everyone:
- Property
owners faced with the cost and task of cleaning up graffiti.
- Individuals
and identifiable groups hurt by discriminatory or hateful messages.
- Graffiti
ruins the natural and architectural beauty of a city.
- Acts of
vandalism decrease the city's attractiveness as a place to visit, conduct
business and invest.
- Graffiti is
often profane, obscene and offensive.
- The
environment suffers from the chemicals used to create and remove
graffiti.
Together we can keep our communities beautiful. Please
take these three steps to help put an end to graffiti in your community:
The City's approach to dealing with graffiti is through
engagement, education, eradication and enforcement. We offer several
services and support to victims of graffiti in an effort to keep our city clean
and safe.
The City of Calgary is asking for the public's assistance in
helping to keep our communities safe and clean. Your actions can
help reduce the spread of graffiti in Calgary.
Step 1 - Record Graffiti
When you see graffiti in your community, please record the
following information:
- The
location: An
address or geographic location (e.g. northwest corner of Stoney Tr NW and
16 Ave NW)
· What the graffiti is on (type of structure and substrate): Examples
are a "metal" street lamp, residential "wooden" backyard
fence, or a "cement" overpass bridge
- Type
of graffiti:
Color, size (e.g. 2 ft x 3 ft), content (i.e. hate, racist information,
sexual content, personal information about someone, political or threat
oriented information)
- Take a
picture if
possible. This helps with graffiti enforcement
Step 2 - Report Graffiti
When you see graffiti in your community, record the details,
then report the information to The City of Calgary by calling 3-1-1, or you can
enter a graffiti report on-line.
If the graffiti is in progress, please call
9-1-1.
Step 3 - Remove Graffiti
If graffiti is on your property, it should be removed as soon
as possible (within two days). The longer graffiti is up, the more likely
additional graffiti will occur, or spread to nearby sites.
Should it appear again in the same location, keep on removing
it as many times as it takes until it stops coming back.
Tips for Removing Graffiti:
· Paint over graffiti with latex paint, it's
the easiest, cheapest and fastest removal method.
· Use a sealant or blocker as a primer to
prevent graffiti from leaching through the finish coat.
· Paint in regular, block patches, often it's
not necessary to paint the entire surface.
· Use at least two coats of paint.
When in doubt about removing graffiti on your own, contact a
professional, see 'Building Cleaners' in the Yellow Pages.
The City of Calgary offers services and support to victims of
graffiti in an effort to reduce and prevent graffiti in our city.
Graffiti on Someone Else's Property or Public Property
If you see graffiti on your neighbour's house or fence,
schools, parks, bus shelters etc. please follow the first two steps of record
and report. Please do not remove the graffiti by yourself.
Once a report has been logged it will be dispatched for
follow up action by Bylaw Services. Please note that information shared
by callers is confidential and only used for the purposes of bylaw enforcement
and graffiti removal.
Our Services
The City of Calgary's current approach to dealing with
graffiti is through Engagement, Education, Eradication and Enforcement.
The City offers the following services and support in an effort to keep our
city clean and safe:
- Discounted Color Match Paint and Graffiti Removal
Supplies
- Graffiti Awareness Educational Presentations
- Volunteer Program
- Graffiti Enforcement
Discounted Color Match Paint and Graffiti Removal Supplies
Thanks to the generous support of ICI Paints
Canada (Color Your World and Glidden) and Cloverdale Paints , victims
of graffiti vandalism can obtain color match paint and other removal materials
at discount prices. Call your local Color Your World, Glidden or
Cloverdale store for details.
Glidden ICI Locations:
· 1032 Macleod Trail SW 271-1291
· 616 16 Avenue NW 289-2546
· Bay B, 3440 12 Street NE 735-6270
· 5310 1 Street SW 255-0138
Cloverdale
Paint Locations:
· Bay 1, 6325 11 Street SE 287-0014
· 4919 61 Avenue SE 236-4777
· 1, 4404 14 Street NW 284-5353
· 21A 240 Midpark Way SE 254-9019
· 10, 1935 36 Street SW 242-7700
· 3003 21 Street SW 280-1606
· 116, 450 CountryHills Blvd NE 567-9394
Another
inexpensive option is "non-color" matched paint from
Calibre Environmental Recycling. Located at 6224 29 Street SE. Call
287-7726 for more information.
Graffiti Awareness Educational Presentations
A one-hour
presentation for students in Grades 4 to 6 explains what graffiti is, why
people do it, how it affects a community and what can be done about it.
For more information, or to book a presentation please call (403) 268-1096.
Volunteer Program
Volunteer
to clean-up graffiti in your neighborhood. The City will provide you
and/or your organization with the proper training, equipment and supplies to
conduct an effective graffiti clean-up in your area. Use the Graffiti
Program to obtain discounted cleaning supplies. Please call 3-1-1
for more information.
Graffiti Enforcement
Graffiti is vandalism. Calgary Police Services, together with The City's Bylaw Services are working together to hold vandals accountable. If you see graffiti in progress please call 9-1-1, or if you have other non-emergency graffiti related information to share with the police, please call (403) 266-1234. Also, The City of Calgary has a bylaw compelling property owners to remove graffiti from their property. Property owners not cooperating in keeping their property graffiti free will be referred to Bylaw Enforcement and may be subject to fines.
Graffiti By-law Information
Graffiti prevention and
abatement regulations are included in the Community Standards
Bylaw. The graffiti section of the bylaw reads as follows:
Graffiti Prevention and Abatement
Part 6 19. (1) For the purposes of this Part,
"Graffiti" means words, figures, letters or drawings scribbled,
scratched or sprayed on a surface without the consent of the owner of the
Premises on which they are placed.
(2) No person shall create or apply Graffiti.
(3) Every owner or occupier of a Premises shall ensure that
Graffiti placed on their Premises is removed, painted over, or otherwise
permanently blocked from public view.
(4) In a prosecution for an offence under this Part, if the defendant seeks to rely on the Graffiti being made with the consent of the owner of the Premises, the onus of proving the owner's consent rests with the Person relying on consent.
Invoice Cancellation
A form has been created for citizens to use when requesting a
cancellation of an invoice issued by The City of Calgary for cleanup services
related to a bylaw contravention, such as graffiti, snow/ice removal, removal
of material from street or alleyway, clean up of unsightly premises, etc.
Click on the link in the Related Links section to access the Invoice
Cancellation form. Upon receipt of the form, Graffiti will contact
you.
For any additional information, please contact the Corporate Contact Centre at 3-1-1 or (403) 268-CITY (2489) - if calling from outside Calgary, or via e-mail at cccweb@calgary.ca .
Volunteering
Volunteer
to help fight graffiti in your neighbourhood. The City will provide you
and/or your organization with the proper training, equipment and supplies to
mount an effective assault on graffiti in your area. Use the Graffiti
Program to obtain free recycled paint and discounted cleaning supplies. Most importantly, don't give up the fight
against graffiti. Together, we can keep our communities beautiful. For more information about the Graffiti
Program, please call 3-1-1.
Contact Graffiti
Report graffiti vandalism in
progress: Call 9-1-1.
*Report graffiti on public or private property:
Call 3-1-1 or online by clicking on 'Report Graffiti Online' under
'Related Links' on the right-hand side of this page.
Volunteer to
help wipe out graffiti: Call 3-1-1.
General inquiries: Call 3-1-1.
*NOTE: It is important to report all graffiti on public or private property by calling 3-1-1 or reporting it online, as the Graffiti Program and Calgary Police Service need to know how much graffiti is going on in the city.
