Memo to: All Neighborhood Councils and Civic Associations
From:    Kathleen Brown, Citizen Liaison to Policing
April 10, 2001 

City of Springfield Graffiti Referral/Removal Process            

                                                       CITIZEN ACTION
Determine exact location by street address.
Call Mayor's Office at 787-6100 and ask to speak to the aide who services your neighborhood or call your Neighborhood Council/Civic Association and they will forward the location to the Mayor's Office.

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                                          MAYOR'S OFFICE
* Mayor's Aide shall confirm the owner/responsible party and make contact with and notify same regarding the need to remove the graffiti.
* The Mayor's Aide may offer the services of the City to assist in the removal of the Graffiti.
* Mayor's Aide shall contact the Police Department to have a Community Police Officer in the affected sector verify that the graffiti is present.
* If the owner, agent, manager, occupant, or tenant refuses to remove the Graffiti at the request of the aide within seventy-two (72) hours, then the case shall be referred to code Enforcement-Building Division for verification, notification and the issuance of a non criminal violation when appropriate.
* The Mayor's office shall notify the Police Department, the Neighborhood Council/Civic Association that the Graffiti has not been removed and the case has been referred to Code Enforcement-Building Division for action.

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                                          POLICE
* The police will receive notice from the Mayor's Office that graffiti has been reported at a specific location.
* If an incident report has not been filed one will be completed.
* The Police Officer shall leave a placard with the owner, agent, manager, occupant, or tenant indicating that the owner, agent, manager, occupant, or tenant has seventy-two (72) hours to remove the graffiti. The notice shall include the Police Officer's Name, pager number and Mayor's Office number.
* The Police Officer shall return after the seventy-two hour period to verify that the Graffiti has been removed.
* The Police Officer shall notify the commanding officer that the graffiti has been removed or is still present.
* The commanding officer shall submit the completed Graffiti Intake Form to the Chief of Police within 5 days of receipt. If the graffiti is removed the file will be closed. If the graffiti has not been removed, the Mayor's office will refer to Code Enforcement Building Division for action.

 

                      CODE ENFORCEMENT -- BUILDING DIVISION
* The inspector shall verify that the Graffiti still has not been removed.
* Inspector shall notify the owner, agent, manager, occupant, or tenant with a letter stating that the owner, agent, manager, occupant, or tenant has ten (10) days to remove the Graffiti.
* The inspector shall after the tenth (10th) day return to verify that the graffiti has been removed. If the graffiti has not been removed a non-criminal violation ticket shall be issued and civil action in housing or District Court will be initiated.
* If, the Graffiti has been removed the inspector shall notify the Police Department and the Mayor's Office that the Graffiti has been removed and the case will be closed.

 

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