Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Ordinance No. 043,. • • ORDINANCE No .__il_ SERIES OF~ /qq°} BY AUTHORITY COUNCIL BILL NO . 24 INTROD U CED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRADSHAW AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 7 , CHAPTERS 6E AND 6F AND TITLE 15 , OF THE ENGLEWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE 1985 , BY REPEALING AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS THAT ADDRESS POSSESSION AND SALE OF GRAFFITI MATERIALS AS WELL AS PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. WHEREAS , graffiti is a blight to properties ; and WHEREAS, graffiti can contain gang related terms; and WHEREAS , graffiti is not only inconvenient but also causes property damage to the citizens of Englewood; and WHEREAS , the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee distinguishes items that may make marks on public property, such as , chalk or wax or other items ; and WHEREAS , the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee has recommended and Council feels it is appropriate to address graffiti that damages property and does harm to the citizens of Englewood ; and WHEREAS , the Committee has recommended and Council feels that law enforcement efforts should be addressed toward issues that are more harmful and wishes to remove enforcement against items which are inconvenient but do not cause property damage such as chalk or wax; and WHEREAS , use of chalk and other similar items on public property is no longer a prohibited activity; and WHEREAS , the Committee and Council wish to aid police offic ers in preventing graffiti by addressing use and possession of specific graffiti materials; and WHEREAS , it is found that most graffiti violations are committed by minors ; and WHEREAS, possession would be prohibited when there is an "intent" of using the materials for the application of graffiti; and WHEREAS , parental permission, school projects, and other lawful endeavors will allow minors to have possession of graffiti materials ; and WHEREAS , the Committee and Council note that theft of specific graffiti materials is harmful to not only the business owner where the theft occurred but also other businesses and homes where graffiti is applied ; and WHEREAS, for the protection of all the citizens of Englewood, including the business owners, sales of specific graffiti materials to minors will be prohibited; and -1- /Ob/ WHEREAS , the Committee and Council recognize the current 24-hour removal requirement from business and homeowners ' property is onerous ; and WHEREAS , the Council and Committee wish to use the current abatement process and system to enforce the removal of graffiti; and WHEREAS , the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee met with representatives from the retail community and this Ordinance reflects those concerns; and WHEREAS , the proposed language is based upon representations from the retail community that they will provide materials and education for retailers in the City of Englewood; and WHEREAS , the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee and the Englewood City Council believe these amendments will aid in graffiti enforcement; NOW , THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD , COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Englewood, Colorado hereby authorizes the amendment of Title 7, Chapter 6F, by the addition of a new Section 11, of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985 , entitled "Graffiti Definitions," which shall read as follows: 7-6F-11: GRAFFITI DEFINITIONS: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE , THE FOLLOWING WORDS SHALL HA VE THE MEANINGS RESPECTNELY ASCRIBED TO THEM, EXCEPT WHERE THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES A DIFFERENT MEANING: AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINER: BROAD-TIPPED MARKER: ETCHING EQUIPMENT: -2- ANY AEROSOL CONTAINER THAT IS ADAPTED OR MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING SPRAY PAINT OR OTHER SUBSTANCES CAPABLE OF DEFACING PROPERTY. ANY FELT TIP INDELIBLE MARKER OR SIMILAR IMPLEMENT WITH A FLAT OR ANGLED WRITING SURFACE THAT, AT ITS BROADEST WIDTH , IS GREATER THAN ONE- FOURTH (1f4TH) OF AN INCH, CONTAINING INK OR OTHER PIGMENTED LIQUID THAT IS NOT WATER SOLUBLE. ANY TOOL, DEVICE , OR SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE PERMANENT MARKS ON ANY NATURAL OR MAN-MADE SURFACE. • • • • • • GRAFFITI : PAINT STICK OR GRAFFITI STICK: PERSON: THE DEFACING OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY BY MEANS OF INSCRIPTION, WORD , OR FIGURE , DONE BY PAINTING, DRAWING , WRITING, ETCHING, OR CARVING WITH PAINT , SPRAY PAINT, INK, KNIFE , ETCHING EQUIPMENT OR ANY SIMILAR METHOD WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE OWNER/PROPERTY OWNER. ANY DEVICE CO NTAINING A SOLID FORM OF PAINT, EPOXY, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCE CAP ABLE OF BEING APPLIED TO A SURF ACE BY PRESSURE AND LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK OF AT LEAST ONE-EIGHT (1/8TH) OF AN INCH IN WIDTH. ANY INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP , COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, PRIVATE CORPORATION, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, RECEIVER, TRUSTEE , ASSIGNEE, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL ENTITY . Section 2 . The City Council of the City of Englewood, Colorado hereby authorizes the amendment of Title 7 , Chapter 6F, by amending and renumbering Section 11, of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985, entitled "Graffiti Prohibited," which shall read as follows: 7 SF 11: GRAFFITI PROHIBITED: It shall be unlawful fey any pcPson to paint, spPay paint, draw , wPitc , etch, car:c OP by any similaP method whatsoever deface any public OP pPivatc p¥opc¥ty , , except with Vt'Pittcn permission of the ovmcr of pfr1atc propePty, the City Manage¥, in the ease of City pPopnty, OP the supervisoPy office¥ of any otheP public p¥opc¥ty . 7-6F-12: GRAFFITI PROHIBITED: IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO DEFACE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY BY MEANS OF INSCRIPTION, WORD, OR FIGURE , DONE BY PAINTING, DRAWING, WRITING, ETCHING, OR CARVING WITH PAINT, SPRAY PAINT, INK, KNIFE, ETCHING EQUIPMENT OR ANY SIMILAR METHOD WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. Section 3. The City Council of the City of Englewood, Colorado hereby authorizes the amendment of Title 7 , Chapter 6E , by the addition of a new Section 9 , of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985 , entitled "Possession of Graffiti Materials by Minors Prohibited," which shall read as follows: -3- 7-6E-9: POSSESSION OF GRAFFITI MATERIALS BY MINORS PROHIBITED: IT SHALL BE U NLAWF UL FOR A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE TO POSSESS AN AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINER , BROAD TIPPED MARKER , PAINT STICK OR GRAFFITI STICK WITH THE INTENT TO USE THE IMPLEMENT OR MATERIAL TO APPLY GRAFFITI. S ection 4 . The City Council of the Ci t y of Englewood, Colorado hereby authorizes the amendment of Title 7, Chapter 6E , by the addition of a new Section 10 , of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985 , entitle d "Prohibited Sale of Graffiti Materials To Minors," which shall read as follows : 7-6E-10: PROHIBITED SALE OF GRAFFITI MATERIALS TO MINORS: A. SALE . IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO SELL ANY AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINER , BROAD-TIPPED MARKER, PAINT STICK OR GRAFFITI STICK TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS . B. SIGNS REQUIRED. IT IS U NLAWF U L FOR ANY PERSON WHO SELLS OR OFFERS TO SELL ANY AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINER, BROAD - TIPPED MARKER , PAINT STICK OR GRAFFITI STICK TO FAIL TO DISPLAY A WARNING SIGN IN A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE BUILDING AT ALL TIMES. C. DISPLAY AND STORAGE: 1. EVERY PERSON WHO OWNS, CONDUCTS , OPERATES , OR MANAGES A RETAIL COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT SELLING AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINERS, PAINT STICKS, OR BROAD- TIPPED MARKERS SHALL STORE THE CONTAINERS , STICKS OR MARKERS IN AN AREA CONTINUOUSLY OBSERVABLE , THROUGH DIRECT VISUAL OBSERVATION OR SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT, BY EMPLOYEES OF THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE REGULAR COURSE OF BUSINESS. 2. IN THE EVENT THAT A COMMERCIAL RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT IS UNABLE TO STORE THE AEROSOL PAINT CONTAINERS, PAINT STICKS , OR BROAD-TIPPED MARKERS IN AN AREA AS PROVIDED ABOVE, THE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL STORE THE CONTAINERS , STICKS, AND MARKERS IN AN AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE REGULAR COURSE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE. Section 5. The City Council of the City of Englewood, Colorado hereby authorizes the amendment of Title 7, Chapter 6F, by the addition of a new Section 13 , of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985 , entitled "Parental Responsibility For Graffiti Offenses ," which shall read as follows: -4- .. .. • • • • ., • ~ ' • • • 7-6F-13: PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR GRAFFITI OFFENSES: A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF HE OR SHE KNOWINGLY PERMITS THE MINOR TO APPLY GRAFFITI. S ection 6 . The City Council of the City of Englewood hereby repeals Title 7, Chapter 6F , Section 12. The City wishes to abate graffiti under the standard abatement procedure of Title 15 and therefore authorizes the addition of a new Section 15 , DEFACED PROPERTY, to Title 15 of the Englewood Municipal Code which shall read as follows : 7 6F 12: DEFL'.rCED PROPERTY: A DcclaPation of Public Nuisance. All pPopcPty defaced by gpaffiti or gang gpaffiti that is visible to public view is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and in the intc1·cst of public health, safety, moPals and general v+·clfarc , shall be abated as set forth in this Section. B. Abatement of Qpaffiti OP Gang Qpaffiti. \VhcncvcP any gpaffiti OP gang graffiti shall be found , the City ManagcP OP his dcsigncc shall oPdcP the occupant OP owner of the p1·opcPty upon vthich the gi·affiti OP gang gpaffiti shall exist, at his own expense , to Pcmovc or correct the same within hvcnty foUP (24) hom·s OP such pcPiod in excess of twenty fom· (2 4) hoUPs as designated in WPiting by the City ManagcP or his dcsigncc , the City Manager OP his dcsigncc may cause the graffiti OP gang gpaffiti to be Pcmovcd or concctcd and all expenses incUPPcd shall be assessed upon such a lot or pPcmiscs on which the gpaffiti OP gang gpaffiti cJcistcd. 15-15-1: DEFACED PROPERTY; ALL PROPERTY DEFACED BY GRAFFITI WHICH IS VISIBLE TO PUBLIC VIEW IS HEREBY DECLARED TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND SHALL BE DEEMED UNLAWFUL . Section 7 . Pcnaltv Provision. The Penalty Provisions of E.M.C. Section 1-4-1 shall apply to each and every violation of this Ordinance. Section 8. Restitution: Mandatory restitution shall be required under Section 1·4-7 of the Englewood Municipal Code. Section 9. Safetv Clauses . The City Council, hereby finds , determines , and declares that this Ordinance is promulgated under the general police power of the City of Englewood, that it is promulgated for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and that this Ordinance is necessary for the preservation of health and safety and for the protection of public convenience and welfare. The City Council further determines that the Ordinance bears a rational relation to the proper l egislative object sought to be obtained. Section 10. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid, such judgment shall not affect impair or invalidate the remainder of this Ordinance or its application to -5- other persons or circumstances. S ec tion 11 . Inconsiste nt Ordina nc es. All other Ordinances or portions thereof incons istent or conflicting with this Ordinance or any portion hereof are here by repealed to the extent of such inconsistency or conflic t. S ection 12 . Effec t of r e peal or modification. The repeal or modification of any provision of the Code of the City of Englewood by this Ordinance shall not release , extinguis h , alter, modify, or change in whole or in part any penalty, forfeiture , or liability , either civil or criminal, which shall have been incurred under such provision, and e ach provision shall be treated and held as still remaining in force for the purposes of sustaining any and all proper actions, suits , proceedings, and prosecutions for the enforcement of the penalty, forfeiture, or liability, as well as for the purpose of sustaining any judgment, decree, or order which can or may be rendered, entered, or made in such actions, suits, proceedings, or prosecutions. Introduced, removed from the table, discussed, read in full , and passed on first reading on the 7th day of June , 1999 . Published as a Bill for an Ordinance on the 11th day of June , 1999. A Public Hearing was held July 19, 1999. Read by title and passed on final reading on the 2nd day of August, 1999. Published by title as Ordinance No. ~, Series of 1999, on the 6 th day of August, 1999 . I, Loucrishia A . Ellis, City Clerk of the City of Englewood , Colorado, hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of the Ordinance passed on final reading and published by title as Ordinance No.13._, Series of 1999. Loucrishia A . Ellis -6- .. .. ' ~ • • •