New strategies for graffiti prevention outlined at SPC

By Justin Sibbet - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on July 19, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDjsibbet@lethbridgeherald.com

With graffiti incidents becoming more and more commonplace in Lethbridge’s downtown, a new plan to extend the cleanup efforts beyond the downtown core has been approved by an SPC and sent to Council.
The Safety and Social Standing Policy Committee on Thursday heard the Clean Sweep Program requires additional funding to expand its cleanup of graffiti across the city or to even just keep up with current demand.
A report provided to the SPC shows 2023 saw over quadruple the graffiti tags cleaned up compared to 2022, reaching 405 from just 88 the year before. To date in 2024, there have been 132 tags removed, as of the time of the report.
These graffiti tags “range in size from small scribbles to mural sized tags,” according to the report.
City councillor John Middleton-Hope says this initiative would see the current Downtown BRZ cleanup crews expanded to aid private property owners throughout Lethbridge. However, public property would remain unaffected.
“Public property would still be managed on a city-wide basis by the City,” said Middleton-Hope during the SPC meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The current motion indicates $51,562 would be required for a temporary foreman and a clean sweep worker, as well as a vehicle rental, supplies and more.
“This is just to use our existing pressure washing equipment, more manpower and supplies,” said Glenn Elgersma, manager of the Clean Sweep Program. “Part of this came out of the fact that the initial funding for the graffiti abatement in the contracts was based on 50, 80, maybe 100 graffiti tags in a year. We’ve done 66 this month.”
Elgersma says the additional employee is important because the BRZ is currently unable to keep up with the rate in which graffiti is plastered around town.
“I just can’t afford to have my foreman (who) is running other programs, I can’t get them on graffiti abatement long enough to make a dent in it.”
However, this current round of funding is only part of a temporary plan until the end of November. The long-term goal would be to increase the BRZ’s funding and capabilities to a point where its workers can be sent anywhere in the city, even in the winter.
“We as a city, currently have no equipment that is capable of removing graffiti in the wintertime,” said Middleton-Hope.
The additional funding goal would include $159,045 and would allow for the long-term goals to become a reality over a one-year period.
According to the report to the SPC, the BRZ is looking to have one full-time foreman, one new vehicle, one insulated or heated trailer, a hot water pressure washer and additional product and personal protective equipment.
Furthermore, the long-term goal indicates the BRZ could earn back over $14,000 through various revenue streams, including the sale of a current utility trailer or potential service fees.
The report to the SPC says graffiti is more than just vandalism, as it can give rise to more serious issues.
“While the appearance of such tags is detrimental to the buildings and commercial enterprises, they are further problematic when associated with gang related activity and the establishment of ‘territory’.”
The report says it is crucial that crews manage graffiti removal in an efficient manner to ensure the vandals eventually give up.
“The faster a dedicated team removes all tags in Lethbridge, the more artists will realize the futility of tagging for lasting effect.”
The motion for the first $51,562 was passed by the SPC, so it will now be brought to the attention of City Council. It is expected the further $159,045 will be discussed in November, though the SPC confirmed it could be sooner if Council so chooses to make the appropriate amendments.

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