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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 GRAFFITI REWARD 03-07-94NO. 15 3-7-94 DATE: MARCH 7, 1994 Inter-Com TO: FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AWARD OF GRAFFITI REWARD RECOMMENDATION -i~ is recOmmended that the city' CoUnCil"aWard a $250,'00 reward out of non-departmental funds to three anonymous witnesses for their actions leading to the issuance of citations to and conviction of a graffiti vandal. FISCAL IMPACT The reward requested would appropriate $250.00 in non-departmental funds to be divided equally between the three witnesses. BACKGROUND Article 5, Chapter 7 of the Tustin City Code regulates the occurrence of graffiti within the City of Tustin. Section 5708 of that Code provides for the issuance of a reward to individuals providing information resulting in the'arrest of the individuals responsible for the vandalism. On February 1, 1993, the Tustin 'City Council formally established a graffiti reward amount of $250.00 to encourage individuals to provide information to the police leading to the arrest of graffiti vandals in the City. On September 11, 1993, one of the eyewitnesses saw an adult offender spray painting graffiti on the door of'a storage room in his apartment complex. He reported the incident to an on-site maintenance worker who phoned police. Later that same day, the apartment complex assistant manager phoned police to report additional graffiti, allegedly painted by the same offender. After the witnesses identified the suspect, he was taken into custody, issued a citation and released. At the court hearing, the offender pled guilty to charges and was required to pay a $250 fine as well as make restitution to owners/management of the apartment complex where the graffiti occurred. He also received 36 months of informal probation. City Council Repcrt Award of Graffit5 Reward March 7, 1994 Page 2 The witnesses have requested that their identity remain confidential. City staff has respected their desire for anonymity. CONCLUSION The eyewitnesses' report and willingness to assist the Tustin Police Departmen~ directly resulted in the arrest and conviction of a graffiti vandaL. Staff believes that requirements set forth in Tustin City Code Section 5708 have been fulfilled and recommends that ..... ~ouncil.~award ~a,.$25~.O_O__r,eward to t_he witnesses for_their assistance in this matter. Chief of Police ~ssOciat~ Planner Christine A:/~hingleton Assistant City Manager PR: kd\CCREPORT\grf rwdT. pr