(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
GRAFFITI. In addition to its usual and customary meaning of defacing walls or structures with messages or slogans, GRAFFITI shall also mean any letter, numeral, figure, emblem, insignia, picture, outline, character, spectacle, delineation, announcement, word, phrase, diagram, symbol, sketch, inscription or representation, wherein the contents thereof are visible to any member of the general public and which contains references to sexual activity, diagrams relating to sexual activity or sexual organs, references to criminal activities or groups which promote or are involved in criminal activity, swearing or fighting words, defamatory materials about any person, references to relationships, or any marking of any kind whatsoever which results in damage to, defacing of, marring of, or discoloring of any sidewalk, street, or other public surface, any vehicle, any equipment, lamp, lamp post or other city property, or of the exterior surface of a wall, fence, door, building or other structure, whether publicly or privately owned.
OWNER. Means and includes the owner of record of the subject property, whether public or private, at the time of the placement or discovery of the graffiti or at a subsequent time, the beneficial owner under a land trust, the contract purchaser, or that person or persons or trust in whose name the general taxes for the last preceding year were paid, except that OWNER shall not include the city.
(B) Conduct prohibited.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to inscribe, draw, or otherwise place or cause to be placed any graffiti upon the surface of any building, structure, wall or surface of other property that is publicly or privately owned.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any parent or legal guardian to knowingly permit any minor child in his or her custody or control to violate division (B)(1) of this section.
(3) The parent or legal guardian of a minor defendant who resides with the parent or legal guardian at the time of the offense may be held liable for any fine or condition of restitution or reparation imposed by a court upon a minor for violation of this section; provided, that minor has not paid the fine or made restitution or reparation within the time ordered by the court; and further provided that the parent or legal guardian has been served with summons or notice to appear whether in the original cause or in any subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, including sentencing or collection actions, as provided by law.
(C) Removal by owner.
(1) Owner's responsibility. It shall be the duty of the owner of the structure or wall or other private property upon which any graffiti is placed or made to remove, eradicate, or eliminate the inscription or representation within thirty (30) days of the occurrence unless granted additional time by the City Council.
(2) Notice to remove graffiti. In the event the owner has failed to eliminate the graffiti, the owner shall be notified by certified mail or personal notice that he or she has thirty (30) days from the date of the notice in which to remove the graffiti. In the event that charges have been filed against the person believed responsible for placement of the graffiti and the owner can show to the city that there is a reasonable likelihood that the person will be required to make restitution or restore the premises to its previous condition, the owner may be given additional time to meet the removal requirements. In no event shall the owner be granted more than a total of six (6) months' time to remove graffiti, but any extensions shall be based solely upon a reasonable likelihood of apprehension and conviction of the person responsible. In the absence of the reasonable likelihood, the owner is responsible for removal within the time allowed in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section.
(3) List of contractors and cleaning materials. The city may make available a list of contractors in the business of removing graffiti and list of cleaning materials generally recognized in the industry as effective in the removal of graffiti. By providing lists of contractors and cleaning materials,
the city does not guarantee the quality or adequacy of work performed by anyone selected by owner or the effectiveness or safety of the materials listed, and the city expressly disclaims responsibility or liability for the quality or adequacy of the work or materials or any claims for damage or injury arising therefrom.
(D) Removal by the city.
(1) The city shall have the right but not the duty to remove graffiti from the exterior of private property if the owner informs the city of the presence of the graffiti and of the owner's inability to remove it. Prior to the city entering any private property to remove graffiti, the owner must sign a statement authorizing removal by the city and agreeing to pay the reasonable costs of the removal and to allow the recording of a lien against the real estate upon which the work was performed if the cost is not paid to the city within thirty (30) days of the date of the invoice sent to the owner. The owner must also sign a release holding the city harmless from any claims or suits brought for damages pursuant to any adverse or injurious effects of such chemicals or from the actions taken by the city or its employees to remove the graffiti prior to the city commencing work on the property. If the property owner does not remove the graffiti within the time specified or extended time requested and granted by the city or if the city is unable to perform the work at the request of the owner, the owner shall be subject to the penalties listed in division (E) of this section.
(2) If the city performs the graffiti removal pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section, it shall be entitled to a lien and to file a notice of lien against the property upon which the work was performed for the cost of the removal.
(E) Penalty.
(1) Upon a finding of guilty for violation of division (B) of this section, an offender shall be punished as provided in § 130.99. Additionally, the court may, as a condition of probation, supervision, or conditional discharge, require that the party guilty of violating the provisions of division (B) of this section make full and complete restitution to the owner of the property for expenses incurred in the removal of the graffiti or, with the consent of the owner, restore the structure, wall, building or surface to its previous condition. In addition, the court may order as a further penalty community service in the form of time to be spent in cleaning property that has been defaced by graffiti in any location in the city.
(2) Upon a finding of guilty for violation of division (C)(1) of this section, an offender shall be punished as provided in § 130.99. Each and every day that graffiti is permitted to remain beyond the time specified in division (C)(2) of this section shall constitute a separate violation.
(F) Compliance by the city.
(1) It is the intention of the city that graffiti discovered upon city property or public property under the jurisdiction and control of the city will be removed within the time periods for graffiti removal imposed upon other governmental bodies and owners of private property under this section. The City Council shall have the authority to order and direct the removal of graffiti.
(2) A designated city officer, or his or her designee, shall provide, no less than semi-annually, a written report to the City Council of graffiti incidents involving city property and removal efforts by the city. The report shall include at a minimum the location of the graffiti, charges filed against or convictions of offenders where relevant, the date and methods of graffiti removal undertaken by the city and the cost of the removal.
Penalty, see § 130.99