Code Enforcement staff and City Legal staff recommend the City Council approve a Resolution establishing a Grafitti Reward Fund Per BMCC Section 18-1116 and direct staff to make an initial budget allocation to the fund. 

In addition to the proposed amendments to the Nuisance, Graffiti, and Boarded Up Structures ordinances considered by City Council, a resolution has been drafted to establish an anti-graffiti fund per BMCC Section 18-1116, and setting a reward amount for information leading to the conviction of a graffiti vandal. The resolution is attached to this memo and City Council is scheduled to take action on the resolution at this meeting.

The residents of Billings will ultimately benefit from the City incentivizing the reporting of graffiti vandalism and getting convictions of graffiti vandals. Tools like this to discourage graffiti across the City will lead to safe neighborhoods, improved quality of life, and less damage to private and public property.

City Council may:

• Approve the Resolution establishing a Grafitti Reward Fund Per BMCC Section 18-1116 and direct staff to make an initial budget allocation to the fund; or,
• Not Approve the Resolution establishing a Grafitti Reward Fund Per BMCC Section 18-1116 and not direct staff to make an initial budget allocation to the fund. Not approving the Resolution will mean one less tool in the City's tool box to discourage and prevent graffiti vandalism in the community and would be out of the alignment with the Coucil's strategic goals to improve public safety.

The establishment of the anti-graffiti reward fund would require an initial budget allocation amount to start the fund. However, Municipal Court fines would be deposited in this fund going forward to help supplement the budget to support rewards for information leading to convictions.