CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to a new civil cause of action against graffiti taggers for illegal graffiti on public and private property and requiring restitution; adding a new Section 10.07.055 to the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending Section 10.07.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, illegal graffiti on public and private property is a significant public nuisance that costs public and private property owners in Seattle millions of dollars per year to abate; and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of illegal graffiti across Seattle has caused substantial public blight that detracts from the natural beauty and character of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, illegal graffiti was reported at 29,946 City-owned properties, including traffic signs, traffic control stations, parking pay stations, libraries, parks, and public utility facilities; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the City spent approximately $5.9 million on the abatement of illegal graffiti from public property, after spending approximately $6.3 million in 2023; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, there were a total of 28,816 reports of illegal graffiti sent to the Find-It, Fix-It app, and other sources; the most significant number of reports of illegal graffiti were in Council District 7 (7,611); followed by 6,463 in Council District 1; 5,210 in Council District 3; 2,769 in Council District 2; 2,721 in Council District 6; 2,625 in Council District 4; and 1,391 in Council District 5; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, 1,845 incidents of illegal graffiti were reported at Port of Seattle, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and Washington State Department of Transportation sites within Seattle; and
WHEREAS, Washington law has long recognized the authority of municipalities to abate public nuisances through civil actions; and
WHEREAS, establishing an appropriate civil cause of action in the Seattle Municipal Code will allow the City Attorney to bring these civil...
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