A. City Council Conducts Hearing: At a hearing before the Council, the Council shall receive evidence from the Police Department and from any other persons with knowledge as to the existence of graffiti. The property owner shall be entitled to be heard on all matters relating to graffiti and the process of removal. The existence of graffiti must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
B. Council Directs Removal: If the Council finds that graffiti exists, the Council shall notify the Public Works Department and direct its removal following the time period allowed in subsection C of this Section. the Public Works Department may authorize private contractors to handle graffiti removal.
C. Notice To Property Owner: In the event the Council finds that graffiti exists, the City Clerk shall mail a written order to the owner of subject real property, addressed to the owner's last known address. The written order shall contain the following:
1. Description of the real estate sufficient for identification.
2. That the City Council has found graffiti exists on the owner's property.
3. A request that the owner remove or obliterate the graffiti within a reasonable time as determined by City Council.
4. Inform the owner that unless corrective action is taken within the time allotted, the Public Works Department may remove the graffiti and charge all costs incurred therein against the real estate as a special assessment to be collected in the same manner as taxes against real estate. (1998 Code)