Northglenn staff propose joining Adams County regional graffiti program under draft IGA

Northglenn officials on Monday discussed a proposed intergovernmental agreement with Adams County that would add the city to the county’s regional graffiti removal patrols, with an initial surge of patrol hours followed by a maintenance schedule.

The proposal would have Adams County perform proactive patrols in Northglenn and remove graffiti on public and permitted private properties. City staff said the IGA calls for an initial 40 hours a month for the first two months and then 20 hours per month thereafter, with a published hourly charge of $36.75 and a 5% annual increase. Staff estimated a 2025 April–October cost of about $6,600 and said the maximum theoretical 12‑month cost if all hours were used would be roughly $10,360.

The agreement is intended to shift the city’s largely reactive, Public Works‑led graffiti response to a regional, proactive patrol model that Adams County already runs for several partner jurisdictions. "They are actually already driving through Northglenn in order to reach other parts of unincorporated Adams County and other partner municipalities," Director Sarah Borgers said during the presentation, describing expected efficiencies from coordinated routing.

Adams County staff who joined the meeting described services and limits. "We can get anything except we don't go up on roofs," said Ryan Dodge, an Adams County graffiti program representative, describing typical removal methods (power washing, roll paint, chemical removers) and noting that the county requires a private‑property waiver before painting private surfaces. Gail Moon, who identified herself as a code compliance supervisor, said the program’s experience is that quick initial removal reduces repeat tagging and that after an initial sweep the volume declines rapidly.

Council members asked about scope, cost and reporting. Council member Kondo asked whether the county will remediate graffiti on wood fences, concrete paths and pedestrian overpasses; Adams County staff said they can address most surface types but will not climb on roofs and that power‑washing effectiveness varies by season. Council member Jaramillo, who identified himself as a muralist, asked how the program would treat tagged murals; county staff said non‑offensive murals on private property could be left if the owner requests it but that unauthorized graffiti on park walls would be covered.

Borgers said the city’s CRM system would remain the intake point: staff would forward citizen reports to Adams County and continue local backup support when county crews are unavailable. The IGA sets a five‑business‑day response objective; Adams County staff said actual response time is usually faster when crews are available.

Council asked for budget detail before final approval. Borgers said there is no immediate budget impact for the presentation and that staff would return with budget language in the coming weeks if council wants to proceed. Council agreed to place the IGA on the next Monday council agenda for consideration. "If council would like us to move forward with this IGA, we can have that on the council agenda for next Monday," Borgers said; councilors responded in the affirmative and asked for a follow‑up report a couple months after implementation.

Key financial and operational points raised in the presentation and discussion: - Proposed staffing pattern in the IGA: 40 hours/month for two months, then 20 hours/month in maintenance; - County charge: $36.75 per hour, 5% annual increase; estimated April–October 2025 cost ≈ $6,600; maximum 12‑month estimate cited ≈ $10,360 if full hours were used every month; - Adams County will ask private property owners for written waivers before painting and does not guarantee a color match though staff said they typically seek close matches; - Normal county operating hours: Monday–Friday, about 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; county maintains a graffiti dashboard with near‑real‑time removal records that partners can view; - Additional investigative services (for police cases or compilation of tag histories) would be billed as an extra service at prevailing hourly rates.

Council and staff agreed to return with budget detail and to request a short implementation report after several weeks of operations if the IGA is approved by the council.

The presentation noted other partner cities — Westminster, Brighton and Federal Heights — have been in the county program and provided positive feedback to Northglenn staff.