REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: December 10, 2018 Report No. EPW-18-035
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Status of 'Esquimalt Together Against Graffiti' (ETAG)
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ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Should the Township continue to rely on volunteer efforts to deal with graffiti on Public and Private Lands?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the COTW receive Staff Report EPW-18-035 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and directs staff to prepare a report for Council's consideration.
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BACKGROUND:
The Township has been very fortunate in its efforts to control graffiti. Approximately 10 years ago, a group of residents in conjunction with the Township established Esquimalt Together Against Graffiti (ETAG). This group's focus was assisting private land owners, who had their property tagged by graffiti, in its removal. The group also assisted Township forces on graffiti removal on public lands. As a result, graffiti was controlled to the point where there was little to no graffiti within the Township.
ISSUES:
The ETAG volunteers were composed mainly of individuals who patrolled the Township and removed graffiti. Many ETAG volunteers contributed a significant amount of time and energy to this enterprise. However, as time passed, the amount of work required to keep up to the group's established high standards took its toll on the volunteers. At this time, ETAG does not have any remaining volunteers.
The Township has increased its graffiti control on the public lands portion to fill in this void. As Parks and Public Works become aware of graffiti, staff is dispatched to remove various tags. The main concern is receiving timely notice of graffiti for its removal. The removal of graffiti as soon as possible has proven to be the best way of preventing additional graffiti in the area.
Graffiti on private lands has been less c...
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