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ACTION <br />Council Committee suggested continuing this item for further discussion for other <br />alternatives to address park safety. <br />5. Graffiti Report —Assistant Public Works Maintenance Manager Danell Mercado and <br />Sergeant Melecio Sarabia <br />Public Works Manager Danell Mercado presented an overview on graffiti removal program, <br />stating removal services are provided seven days a week by six technicians with one <br />specifically dedicated to parks. Graffiti removal request could either be submitted thru the <br />graffiti hotline, which is answered only during the week with the ability to leave voicemail <br />afterhours or through mySantaAna app where submissions are sent straight to the technician <br />for response. Responses for removal can then be expected to occur within 48-hours but <br />typically in 24. Manager Mercado also shared graffiti removal statistics from the past two <br />years that show people are using the app more to report graffiti then the hotline. As an <br />additional effort to address this ongoing problem, Manager Mercado suggested the <br />consideration of establishing a punitive fine, on top of a restitution fine that is already <br />require to pay to help deter and reduce negative impacts. <br />Sergeant Sarabia stated that the compensation from graffiti reward program is $500 with <br />stipulation that full cooperation is required from arrest to prosecution of individual. He also <br />addressed the low number of arrest in comparison to number of removal of graffiti is due <br />to lack of cooperation and most cases moved to a diversion program. <br />Council committee urged continued address on prevention of graffiti by revisiting advisory <br />signage to promote reward program and help deter individuals. A suggestion was also made <br />to revisit scheduling of techs to increase to an additional tech over the weekend to help <br />with calls for services. <br />6. Cyber Cafes — Code Enforcement Manager Alvaro Nunez and Deputy Chief Ken <br />Gominsky <br />Manager Alvaro Nunez provided a verbal update on current efforts that are being done <br />between PD, Code Enforcement in with collaboration City Attorney's Office. There are <br />approximately thirty-five operating cyber cafes in the City of Santa Ana. The common <br />factor is that most are applying for a business license with the intention of being a cyber <br />cafd, which then result to operating an illegal gambling business. <br />Deputy Chief Gominsky mentioned there current moratorium while City evaluates what to <br />do with these business moving forward. Deputy Chief Gominsky suggested a ban on cyber <br />cafes. PD Vice units consistently are issuing warrants to go into these businesses where <br />approximately five to twenty-four gambling machines are seized as evidence. Due to the <br />size of these machines, PD has run out of space to store them while awaiting criminal <br />prosecution. Deputy Chief Gominsky stated he is currently looking at low cost storage <br />alternatives to address this issue. To consider the option of getting rid of them while case <br />4 <br />