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Murrieta code enforcement details response to graffiti; staff says city covers most incidents
Summary
Code enforcement and parks maintenance described how reports are handled, the city's removal methods and enforcement timeline; staff said the city handles a majority of graffiti incidents and aims for a 24-hour response to city-owned infrastructure.
City code enforcement and parks maintenance staff told the Parks & Recreation Commission how graffiti complaints are processed and when the city removes tags.
Nolan Brentus, who introduced himself as the city’s enforcement manager, said complaints come through an online complaint form, phone calls, in-person visits to City Hall, and the Myriad Fix It app. Staff research reported locations to determine whether property is city-owned or private; city-owned infrastructure is assigned to parks maintenance, while private-property issues are assigned to code enforcement for notice and potential escalation.
"We have established codes that deal with graffiti, and our job is to make community members and property owners aware of what they need to do to correct it and then get it done in a timely manner," Nolan said.
Nolan told commissioners the department has six code enforcement officers assigned across three geographic areas, which provides a backup when an officer is out. He said the city typically issues courtesy and second notices before escalating to administrative citations. The city’s municipal code sets the civil fines for violations: the first citation is $100, the second $200 and the third $500, with subsequent citations at $500.
Parks maintenance supervisor Josh Havens described tools and methods the maintenance crews use to remove graffiti, from chemical removers to a pressure-washer/sandblaster truck and surface-specific paints designed to blend over time. Staff said they aim to leave a surface with no visible evidence of a tag when they finish.
Nolan said staff generally aim to respond to city-owned graffiti within 24 hours and that private-property owners are given a few days to a week to correct issues depending on how notice is delivered. Commissioners asked staff to provide private-vs.-city breakdowns; Nolan said staff could pull those statistics for a future report.
The presentation also included examples of recent graffiti removal and an explanation of how the city documents complaints and routes them to the appropriate team.
