The topic of how to deal with graffiti around Lethbridge will go before the Lethbridge Downtown Lawlessness Task Force committee.
Executive director of the Downtown BRZ, Sarah Amies has put in the submission for the Thursday, May 23rd meeting. The submission states that throughout Lethbridge there appears to be an increase in graffiti, which can not only be harmful for to buildings and businesses that are tagged but also can be associated with gang activity and these groups establishing a “‘territory’.”
The proposal being brought forward builds on the Clean Sweep Program the city and BRZ have partnered on. The program currently has a number of functions including cleaning up drug-related debris in the downtown core and six “hot spot” areas around Lethbridge, maintaining the grounds and area around the Lethbridge shelter, and managing the city’s Encampment and Biohazard Removal program.
While part of the program’s function during the summer is to remove graffiti, the submission says currently graffiti removal is happening outside of the hours of “regular cleaning activities.”
The submission going before the task force reads “Graffiti removal is also limited by weather conditions and if it is to be performed on a year-round basis, significant equipment investment must be made.”
Amies and the BRZ are proposing putting a dedicated team in place that will work to remove all the tags in Lethbridge. The two proposed options include a foreman and crew member who will be put in place, either full-time or for a six month period, who will be focused on addressing graffiti in the downtown area, the six outlined hot spot areas, along with areas that are around encampments.
As well if there is time the crew would also help mitigate and address back-alley fires, which is another issue that is highlighted. According to the BRZ submission, these fires are also on the rise and a main contributor is “business owners leaving incendiary materials in the alley for garbage or recycling pick up.”
“We propose to pick up these materials regularly to potentially reduce the fire events that cause massive damage within the Downtown.”
The proposed crew is estimated to cost between $51,562 and $159,045.