The purpose and intent of this chapter is to help prevent the spread of graffiti vandalism and to establish a program for the removal of graffiti from public and private property. Graffiti is a public nuisance and destructive to the rights and values of property owners as well as the entire community. Unless the City acts to remove graffiti from public and private property, the graffiti tends to remain. Other properties then become the target of graffiti, and entire neighborhoods are affected and become less desirable places in which to be, all to the detriment of the City. This chapter intends to provide additional enforcement tools to protect public and private property from acts of graffiti vandalism and defacement. [Ord. 3370 § 2, 1999; Code 1970 § 9.85.010.]