Graffiti on public and private property is a blighting factor which not only depreciates the value of the property which has been the target of such malicious vandalism, but also depreciates the value of the adjacent and surrounding properties, and, in so doing, negatively impacts upon the entire community. The City has in the past undertaken to remove graffiti from public property but has been unable to mount a successful program for encouraging the owners of private property to undertake to remove graffiti from walls, buildings, structures and other surfaces. Section 53069.3 of the Government Code authorizes the City under certain circumstances to provide for the removal of graffiti.
The City Council finds and determines that graffiti is obnoxious and a public nuisance and, unless promptly removed from public and private properties, tends to remain and to attract more graffiti; other properties are then the target of graffiti, with the result that entire neighborhoods and, indeed, the community is depreciated in value and made a less desirable place. The City Council therefore determines that it is appropriate that the City of Anaheim develop procedures to implement the provisions of Section 53069.3 of the Government Code and provide for the removal of graffiti from both public and private property under the circumstances set forth hereinafter. The City Council further determines that it is appropriate to provide regulations relating to the display for sale of aerosol paint containers and marking pens and to provide penalties relating to possession of graffiti implements for the purpose of engaging in graffiti-making acts. (Ord. 4089 § 1 (part); January 2, 1980: Ord. 5358 § 1; March 9, 1993.)