City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council discuss the City’s Graffiti Abatement Program
and allow Staff to provide an update on providing abatement through an in-house
crew.
BACKGROUND:
At its June 18, 2007 meeting, the City Council authorized the Public Works
Department to enhance its Graffiti Abatement Program by having graffiti removal
work performed entirely by City Staff and provide seven day per week abatement.
Currently, graffiti abatement service is provided by an outside contractor, Graffiti
Control Systems (GCS), whose contract with the City expired on June 30, 2007.
GCS had been providing service since 1993 and continues to provide service on a
month-to-month basis until the Public Works Department fully establishes its in-
house crew. Last year, GCS responded to approximately 7,000 graffiti incidents,
which equates to approximately 27 per work day. Additionally, Public Works crews
remove graffiti from street light poles, utility boxes, trees, sidewalks and curbs, and
traffic signs on an on-going basis. On a typical day, the City receives twelve to
fifteen graffiti complaints on the graffiti hotline (310-253-6449). Complaints of and
requests for graffiti removal are received from various sources including the graffiti
hotline, direct phone referrals to the Public Works Department and most recently,
Culver City Connect (the City’s new online customer contact system).
DISCUSSION:
Meeting Date: 12/10/07 Item Number: A-4
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion Regarding City’s Graffiti Abatement Program and
Status of Transitioning to an In-House Graffiti Crew from Contract Services.
Contact Person/Dept:
Eric Mirzaian-Public Works
Phone Number:
(310) 253-6410
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification:
Master Notification List on 12/5/07.
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson 11/29/07
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Iker) (12/05/07)
Fiscal Impact Review:
Marlee Chang (12/04/07)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (12/05/07) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
As part of its efforts to enhance the graffiti abatement program, the Public Works
Department is in the process of establishing an in-house crew that will, when fully
staffed, consist of a Facilities Maintenance Crew Leader plus three (3) crew
members. The schedule of the in-house crew will be staggered so that seven day
per week coverage can be achieved.
The Public Works Department has worked with the Human Resources Department
to develop the job class specifications of the Facilities Maintenance Crew Leader
(Graffiti). This revised job class specifications for the Facilities Maintenance Crew
Leader (Graffiti) will be brought to the Civil Service Commission meeting for their
review on December 5, 2007. If approved by the Civil Service Commission, the job
specification will be brought to the City Council for final approval at this meeting
(December 10, 2007).
Because of the important nature of this new in-house program, the Public Works
Director has authorized filling the Facilities Maintenance Worker positions while the
Crew Leader specification is being created. One Facilities Maintenance Worker was
hired effective November 19, 2006 and has been performing graffiti removal in
conjunction with the work provided by GCS. The two remaining crew member
positions will be filled from a new Facilities Maintenance Worker list (the old list
having been exhausted).
With the assistance of the Transportation Department, a new truck has been
purchased and Staff is currently waiting for delivery. Once delivered, the truck will
be outfitted with graffiti abatement equipment. We anticipate that this truck will be
fully outfitted and ready for operation by February 2008.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Last fiscal year, the graffiti abatement program’s operating budget was $192,112,
which was utilized to fund the services provided by GCS. The following is a cost
breakdown for the in-house graffiti abatement crew:
Annual Costs:
Salary upgrade (with benefits) to Sr. Maintenance Painter*: $5,551
Salary (with benefits) for 3 Maintenance Worker I (at B step): $194,646
Equipment/materials (paints, brushes, misc. equipment): $10,000
Annual vehicle maintenance and fuel costs: $2,000
Annual vehicle amortization costs: $3,365
TOTAL $215,562
City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
* This position will be changed to Facilities Maintenance Crew Leader per City
Council approval. There is no change in funding for this position.
Start Up Costs:
Vehicle (double cab pick-up truck w/ hydraulic lift gate): $30,000
Facility equipment (color match analyzer, paint mixing machine): $30,000
TOTAL $60,000
The funding is sufficient in the fiscal year 2007-08 for the proposed in-house
program.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Receive and file this report and provide staff any direction that it deems appropriate.