OLDS — Town council has approved new rules for dealing with graffiti via its community standards bylaw.
Under the bylaw, all graffiti shall be removed within 72 hours by the owner of the property, once the said owner becomes aware of the graffiti unless that graffiti occurs between Nov. 1 and April 30 when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius.
However, if the graffiti is racist, derogatory, or discriminatory, it will be removed or temporarily covered within 72 hours, regardless of the time of year in which it occurs.
The bylaw says the property owner shall “ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to minimize the duration and visual impact” of the graffiti.
The rules were approved during council’s July 12 meeting after being initially debated during its July 5 policies and priorities meeting.
"I’m very pleased to see how this is written, particularly during the winter hours, and also (that) graffiti should be covered if it is racist, derogatory or discriminatory within 72 hours,” Coun. Wanda Blatz said during the policies and priorities meeting.
However, she pointed out that it can often be windy in Alberta, so that might make it hard for some business owners to be able to “secure some type of a temporary covering, you know, and have it last.
"I think you can’t expect business owners to start drilling holes in the side of their building just to try and cover graffiti. That’s going to become unsightly in itself too, so it could be interesting to see how this might work out.”
Senior community peace officer Eric Christensen and Justin Andrew, the town’s director of protective services, said the town’s bylaw enforcement officers are willing to work with businesses, so they might cut some slack if those property owners show a genuine desire to solve the problem.
Andrew said protective services staff are working to identify products that can be utilized throughout the year, including in cold weather, to deal with graffiti.
He said one device being looked at shoots dry ice pellets “and will remove paint and substances without doing further damage.”
Andrew said town officials are hoping to partner with entities like the chamber of commerce, businesses or residents to obtain such devices and make them available when needed in a way “where there’s mutual benefits and minimizing cost and disruption to everybody.”
In the meantime, Andrew indicated that he’s confident the new changes to the bylaw will enable staff and the community to address graffiti in town.
“If you show a demonstrated desire to comply, we will give you all of the efforts and courtesies and common-sense that would apply to that,” he said.
