Board approves DPW assessments list after public hearing; several cases continued for follow-up

The Board of Supervisors, sitting as a committee of the whole, opened a public hearing on a report of assessment costs from the Department of Public Works (DPW) related to graffiti inspection and abatement under Administrative Code Chapter 80.

Gretchen Rood and Phil Galley of DPW described the unit's outreach and notice process and said the department performs abatement and seeks to recover costs when owners do not comply. "The code requires DPW to inspect graffiti and notify property owners to make corrections...DPW records show that the majority of property owners abate graffiti from their properties on time," said Gretchen Rood.

Several property owners and residents spoke during public comment, describing recurring graffiti episodes, access problems to high-wall tags, and language barriers that prevented some tenants and elderly owners from understanding notices. One commenter said the building in question had been repeatedly re-tagged within days of cleanup and that access to the high wall required equipment on a neighboring property.

A representative described a 98-year-old property owner who had cleaned graffiti but had not been able to appear in person to acknowledge it; advocates asked the board to allow leniency in such hardship cases.

Supervisor Christiansen questioned DPW staff about language access and whether the department's FAQ and notices were sufficiently multilingual and accessible. DPW responded that FAQs exist in multiple languages (Spanish, English and Cantonese were cited) and that the unit will work with owners who show hardship to avoid penalties. Phil Galley said the unit will "do any means possible to avoid these penalties" when hardship is shown.

Outcome and procedure: DPW reported it had met with property owners and removed four locations from the list; 70 locations remained for assessment. Supervisors agreed to continue two specific Grant Avenue items to the May 19 meeting for additional follow-up at the request of Supervisor Christiansen. The remainder of the revised list was approved as amended.

Supervisor Christiansen and others pressed DPW to adopt simple improvements to notices and outreach — for example, including clear multilingual instructions and a local contact — to reduce needless disputes. DPW said it would explore low-cost improvements and work with members of the public to resolve outstanding cases before liens are placed on property tax rolls.

What happened next: The board adopted the resolution authorizing assessments (as amended and with two items continued), and DPW recorded that 70 properties remained on the list to be forwarded for tax-roll assessment unless they were paid or otherwise resolved.

Provenance: The public hearing opened when items 12 and 13 were called; DPW presented and public testimony followed. DPW later reported post-hearing that four locations were removed from the assessment list and 70 remained; two items were continued for additional follow-up and the remaining items were adopted as amended by the board.