Lake County Gazette

The Waukegan City Council will amend its ordinance on August 5, which requires the city to remove graffiti from private property at the property owner's request. The amendment addresses questions and concerns raised by Public Works staff regarding the ordinance approved on January 16.

According to the August 5 meeting agenda for the Waukegan City Council, the amendment adds requirements and parameters for the graffiti abatement program. These include requiring property owners to authorize city staff or its agents to enter the property to abate graffiti and release the city from any claims or damages that result. The availability of personnel, equipment, and funding may affect the city's obligation to conduct graffiti abatement. The city may use its workers or retain contractors for this work.

The agenda also states that the property owner or person in charge of a building defaced by graffiti must remove or conceal it or ask the city to abate it. A citation will not be issued for a public nuisance if a request for abatement has been submitted to the city.

Abatement by the city will be limited to applying a single coat of opaque white paint over the area defaced by graffiti. The city will not be obligated to use a specific color, shade, or type of paint, nor apply paint uniformly to an entire wall surface defaced by graffiti.