Kern County Grand Jury • 2021-2022

Report: Kern County General Services Graffiti

Published: March 22, 2022 14 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 6 findings

F1
According to data from Graffiti Hurts, “Rapid removal of graffiti is an effective prevention tool.” The County and City of Bakersfield offer free graffiti removal on the Bakersfield City website. The process includes completing the form online and submitting your request. However, this process can be confusing because the caller may not know if they are within city limits or county jurisdiction. This causes the County Maintenance Manager to spend several hours processing graffiti removal requests, by separating city and county prior to dispatching the employee to the location.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
, a system should be implemented that automatically directs the removal request to the proper authority (between city and county). (Finding 1) a. The graffiti abatement website needs to include an area map that CLEARLY indicates county and city jurisdictions for the reporter. b. When filling out a request for graffiti abatement online, the forms need to specify where the request is needed, in the City or the County.
R7
The City and County graffiti abatement staff should meet weekly to address their application problems until they are resolved. (Finding 1)
F2
The County graffiti abatement truck is 15 years old and has 130 thousand miles on it.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By January 2023, purchase a new vehicle with new equipment. (Finding 2)
F3
Sandblasters are a benefit for graffiti abatement. This makes cleaning tough surfaces like metal, and cement much easier, which saves time and money. Neither the City nor County has a sandblaster in their inventory.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The County should consider purchasing a sandblaster in the next fiscal year. (Finding 3)
F4
According to county employees, of all graffiti, 30% is from homeless individuals and 40% from gangs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Kern County should apply for Federal Grant funds allocated for the homeless and gangs, as they are a major contributor to graffiti. (Finding 4) NOTES: • The Board of Supervisors should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CAL. PENAL CODE § 933, SUBD. (C) AND 933.05 WITHIN 90 DAYS TO:  PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301  TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 BIBLIOGRAPHY: https://www.alpolic-americas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/GraffitiResistance_050615.pdf https://artradarjournal.com/2021/11/17/10-reasons-why-graffiti-is-bad/ https://nypost.com/2021/06/02/locals-gripe-about-recent-rash-of-junkier-graffiti-in-nyc- neighborhood/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/nyregion/graffiti-nyc.html https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/penal-code/594/
F5
Currently, if an additional person is needed for graffiti abatement, they are pulled from the maintenance crew.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
By FY 2022-2023, the Board of Supervisors should, at a minimum, double the budget of the Kern County Graffiti Abatement Program. (Findings 5 and 6)
R5
By February 2023, staff should be a minimum of three (one supervisor, one full-time employee, and one extra help). (Finding 5)
F6
The County Graffiti Abatement Program is underfunded and understaffed. Additional funds and staffing are needed immediately. COMMENTS: In 2017, Rexland Acres Park had an enormous problem with one specific area being tagged consistently. After an artist brought two gangs together and painted a mural representing both points of interest, the two gangs work together to ensure the mural is left alone. According to county employees, as of 2021, that area has not been tagged since. In January 2022, the Grand Jury visited Rexland Acres Park and observed minimal damage to the mural. Rexland Acres Mural (Photos provided by the Grand Jury) County employees estimate that at a minimum, three people and an additional truck are needed for the workload. The County’s priority should be the budget. Budget cuts affect the maintenance department first, and graffiti abatement most. Equipment should be the second priority, and then staffing. With budget cuts at every turn, the County’s graffiti program has continued to become less of a priority. Certain departments have been forced to forego an increase in wages and learn to do more with less. But, for the County of Kern’s Graffiti Abatement Program, it is more like “Doing Everything with Nothing.” (Graph created by the Kern County Grand Jury) Fiscal Year (FY) City of Bakersfield County of Kern 2018/2019 $2,130,000 $75,158 2019/2020 $2,300,000 $56,707 2020/2021 $2,390,000 $80,785 The Kern County Grand Jury would like to thank all the participants that were interviewed for providing very valuable information.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Kern County Graffiti Abatement Program should have its own dedicated budget. (Finding 6)

Comments 3

No Responses Found 1

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Kern County County