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WORK STUDY problem through prevention efforts, graffiti removal and prosecution of offenders. Emery presented statistics from the Public Works Agency showing a decline in graffiti removal from 2.1 million square feet in 1995 to 1.7 million in 1998. He discussed personnel and equipment allocated to the graffiti removal program, explaining Agency personnel responded to calls for removal Monday through Friday and contract personnel Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Lopez described the role of the Parks and Recreation Agency in graffiti removal, detailing the administration of the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) which uses juvenile offenders to over paint graffiti in the public right of way as part of their community. service, and noted the Parks Services Division removes graffiti from park properties. He explained the VORP program was constrained by limited equipment and vehicles. Foote provided the Council with a list of Tagger, Tagbanger, and Party Crew acronyms numbering in excess of 375 groups, discussed the Police Department's procedures regarding arrest and prosecution of offenders, and summarized both the judicial case and graffiti removal activity of the Graffiti Task Force for 1998, indicating that in total some 2.1 million feet of graffiti had been removed in 1998 at a total estimated cost of $600,184. Foote, Emery and Lopez responded to Councilmembers' questions regarding program coordination and details. Councilmember Bist suggested a single phone number be employed instead of the 3 currently used for reporting graffiti, and Councilmember Franklin suggested 1- 800-STOP-TAG. 90.B. COMMENTS COUNCIL COMMENTS There were no Council comments. ADJOURNED: 10:01 P.M. To 5:30 p.m. on May 3, 1999 in Room 831, City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza for Closed Session Clerk of the Council CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 123 APRIL 19, 1999