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Chehalis council advances graffiti enforcement ordinance on first reading
Summary
The Chehalis City Council on April 14 passed on first reading an ordinance that adds graffiti to the city nuisance code, creates a misdemeanor for possession of graffiti paraphernalia with intent, allows the city to remove graffiti and recover costs, and includes parental financial responsibility for juveniles. A second reading is scheduled.
The Chehalis City Council passed on first reading Ordinance No. 1113–B on April 14, adopting changes to Chehalis Municipal Code Chapter 7.04 to add unlawful graffiti provisions, create a new misdemeanor offense for graffiti-related paraphernalia, and expand the city’s nuisance-abatement tools.
Council members and city staff said the changes give the city more options to require removal of graffiti, recover removal costs if property owners refuse, and hold parents financially responsible when juveniles are involved. City officials said faster removal reduces repeat vandalism and helps prevent related neighborhood decline.
The ordinance adds graffiti to the municipal public-nuisance provisions and creates a new code section, 7.04.135. It makes it a misdemeanor to possess graffiti paraphernalia with intent to commit property damage, allows the city to abate graffiti as a nuisance and recover costs, and authorizes financial liability for parents or guardians of juveniles arrested for graffiti vandalism. City staff said the nuisance-notice timeline is typically 14 days for compliance, with extensions more commonly granted to residents than to businesses.
During council discussion, the police chief described the proposed measures as “additional tools in the toolbox” to address repeat offenders and properties that do not remove graffiti. Council members and members of the public discussed implementation details, including what constitutes adequate removal (staff said covering the graffiti so the marking is no longer visible is typically acceptable), how the city would recover removal costs if it performs the work, and whether volunteer groups could be used to help homeowners. Staff said the city will attempt voluntary compliance first and pursue abatement only if property owners do not act.
One council member noted state law — cited in the meeting as RCW 9.48.090 — can make certain graffiti offenses gross misdemeanors and suggested council consider that change before second reading. The council asked staff to review that option for the second reading.
A council member moved to pass Ordinance No. 1113–B on first reading; another council member seconded the motion. With no recorded roll-call in the transcript, the mayor called for the question, councilmembers voted “Aye,” and the motion passed. The ordinance will return for a second reading.
The ordinance’s supporters said the measures are intended to accelerate cleanup and reduce repeat vandalism; opponents or those raising caution asked for clearer rules about timelines, cost recovery, and how parental financial responsibility would be applied. City staff offered to consult further with the city attorney and return with clarified language at second reading.
Votes at a glance: Motion to pass Ordinance No. 1113–B on first reading — moved, seconded, voice vote recorded as “Aye,” motion passed; second reading scheduled (date not specified in transcript).
