Office of the City Auditor

City of San Diego

Performance Audit of the
Graffiti Control Program
Presentation to the City Council
Significant Program Revisions Are Needed to Improve
Graffiti Control Efforts
OCA-14-014
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Background
OCA-14-014
Graffiti has many negative effects, including:
Perception of blight
Fear of gang activity
Reduced property values and retail sales
Lost revenue from reduced transit ridership
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Background
OCA-14-014
Graffiti is more widespread in some
areas of the City than others
Over !,""" incidents
of graffiti were abated from
F# "$$ to F#"$%
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Background
OCA-14-014
Time Frame
Graffiti Abatement
Responsibility
NCC Street Division Urban Corps
Before July 1, !1"
#nta$e of %raffiti reports
Routin% of %raffiti reports
to abatement &re's

Abatement of %raffiti
All ot(er publi&
ri%(t of 'ay
Bri)%es,
si)e'al$s, street
si%ns
*rivate property
Co)e enfor&ement a%ainst
%raffiti on private property

After July 1, !1"
#nta$e of %raffiti reports
Routin% of %raffiti reports
to fiel) &re's

Abatement of %raffiti
All publi& ri%(t of
'ay
*rivate property
Co)e enfor&ement a%ainst
%raffiti on private property

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Finding 1 Current Process Is !ecentrali"ed
OCA-14-014
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Finding 1 Intake Is Confusing for Customers
and !ela#s Response
OCA-14-014
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Finding 1 Intake
OCA-14-014
Graffiti on this utility pole was
referred bac& to the customer'
(OC)*
Graffiti on these phone booths was
not abated'
)batement of graffiti on this fence was delayed by at least three business days.
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Finding 1 Current Process Impedes Efficient
Graffiti A$atement
OCA-14-014

Finding 1 Current Process Impedes Efficient

Graffiti A$atement
OCA-14-014
)ppro+imately $" feet
,ecentrali-ation prevents crews from abating graffiti efficiently'
Crews have to bypass some incidents of graffiti'
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Finding 1 Cit# %acks Essential !ata for
&onitoring Performance
OCA-14-014
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Finding 1 Recommended Graffiti A$atement
Process 'it(in Street !ivision
OCA-14-014
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OCA-14-014
.he City should improve coordination with other groups involved in graffiti
control to leverage resources for outreach'
/riter- 0loc&
,owntown Partnership
.he City should ensure that all groups abating graffiti have access to Graffiti
.rac&er in order to enhance law enforcement efforts'
)ccording to the vendor, this can be done at little to no cost to the City'
.he City should ma&e 1pray and Pay rewards proactively to increase
awareness of the program and encourage residents to report in2progress acts
of graffiti vandalism'
Finding ) Program *utreac( and
Coordination Can Be Improved
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Finding ) Program *utreac( and
Coordination Can Be Improved
OCA-14-014
.he City should wor& with utility companies to consolidate
responsibility for graffiti abatement where possible
.his could include agreements to compensate the City for the cost of
abatement
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Finding ) Additional Graffiti Control
Resources &a# Be Needed
OCA-14-014
City *opulation
Graffiti Control
Bu)%et
Bu)%et Dollars
per Resi)ent
Graffiti Control
FT+s
FT+s per 1!!,!!!
Resi)ents
1an Francisco 34,35% 6%,7"",""" 68'83 2 2
Riverside %$%,57% 6$,%"",""" 68'$8 2 2
Phoeni+ $,884,5% 68,%"3,!8" 6'!3 %'4 '
Fresno 4"4,33 6$,4"",""" 6'!7 $"'" '"
)naheim %%5,54 6!",""" 6'78 $8'8 8'%
Long 0each 857,3! 6$,"77,5"" 6'%" 2 2
,enver 5%8,54 6$,%78,4$! 6'$7 $7'" '7
Los )ngeles %,347,7!! 67,"",""" 6$'37 34'" '
Chicago ,5!4,4!3 6%,%$$,73% 6$'% 8"'" $'4
1an 9ose !38,!! 6$,$",""" 6$'$8 2 2
0a&ersfield %43,4!7 2 2 $8'" %'!
1acramento 874,4$5 2 2 8'4 "'!
San Die%o 1,"!,,-! .,/0,10- .!211 1"20 12!
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Finding + Contract *versig(t
OCA-14-014
.he City removed the vendor:s access to a wor& order system
in "$$'
.he City has not re;uired the graffiti abatement vendor to
provide information on compliance with performance standards'
.he City needs to ensure that a new contract with the vendor
includes performance measures'
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Summar# and Recommendations
OCA-14-014
.<= C>.# 1<O?L, ($8 Recommendations*:
Centrali-e graffiti abatement operations in the 1treet ,ivision to improve response
times, customer service, and performance reporting (5 recommendations*
,etermine whether field abatement operations can be conducted most efficiently
and effectively by City crews or a vendor, and centrali-e field abatement operations
with that group ($ recommendation*
>mprove coordination with other groups involved in graffiti control, e+pand the use
of Graffiti .rac&er, and increase publicity for the 1pray and Pay rewards program
(% recommendations*
=nsure that ade;uate resources are provided to achieve graffiti control ob@ectives
($ recommendation*
>mprove contract management and oversight (% recommendations*
Recommended Council Action
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!e re"ue#t that the City Counci$
acce%t the audit re%ort.
OCA-14-014