Agoura Hills amends law to help residents remove graffiti
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Agoura Hills residents and business owners may be empowered to quickly remove graffiti from their properties now that the city will provide the paint, brushes and other tools to get the job done.

The City Council amended the city's graffiti prevention and removal ordinance Aug. 23 to prevent graffiti "artists" from enjoying their work for too long.

"One of the key components to implementing a successful graffiti program is reducing the amount of time that the graffiti is visible to the public," Assistant City Manager Nathan Hamburger said in his report to the council.

"By removing the graffiti in an expeditious manner," Hamburger said, "it reduces the amount of recognition that many taggers receive and maintains the look that the Agoura Hills community has come to expect."

A provision of the amended law will allow the city to keep from 10 to 15 cans of the most common types of paint in stock at city hall so when homes or businesses are spray painted, property owners or city employees can quickly remove graffiti.

Paint, brushes and the use of some equipment will also be provided free to residents, Hamburger said.

In addition, city officials are negotiating with contractors to obtain a "fair and consistent" rate to be offered to all Agoura Hills property owners who want to pay to have graffiti removed.

Hamburger said the new program will cost the city $7,500 annually.

When graffiti is visible on residential property the city sends out a written notice to the homeowner requiring its removal within five days. Graffiti can either be removed by the owner or by the city's staff with the homeowner's consent. The old ordinance gave homeowners 14 days to eradicate graffiti, but when property owners didn't cooperate, the marks remained visible for as long as 44 days after being reported.

"The idea is that (residents) don't have to go out and get three or four bids and try to find the right type of contractor to take care of graffiti on their areas," Hamburger said.

"There's been a proliferation of graffiti in every city," Councilmemberw Harry Schwarz said. "Some people think it's an art form, and I happen to think it creates ugliness in the city. The faster we get it off, the less gratification for the artist." Hamburger said amending the municipal code was a "proactive" move rather than a response to increased "tagging" of property.

Mayor Dan Kuperberg said the amended ordinance addresses the most common reasons homeowners delay removing graffiti on their property.

"The whole idea is to get i t removed quickly," Kuperberg said.