Shelton moves on graffiti, sign ordinances

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to new ordinances on graffiti and signs.

The council can make the changes official at its April 19 meeting. If passed, the ordinances would go into effect on April 24.

The council discussed both proposed ordinances March 8 at a study session. In both cases, the city states it is seeking to make the rules more concise.

Under the proposed vandalism ordinances, the owner of the vandalized property would be responsible for the cleanup, but the city would provide either the paint or the labor for the task.

The draft of a proposed ordinance defines graffiti as “any unauthorized inscription, letter, words, numbers, figures, pictures, designs, regardless of content, which is drawn or painted on any surface on public or property that is visible from any public right of way.”

The proposed ordinance notes that “vandalism of property through graffiti constitutes a public nuisance and a blight on the community … vandalism through graffiti damages property and creates a hardship for victims who lack means or opportunity to abate the graffiti.”

Under the draft ordinance proposal, violators could be charged with malicious mischief. Second-degree malicious mischief would be for damages of $750 or less, third degree $750 or more, Niten said.

In the past five years, only one person has been charged with second-degree malicious mischief in the city, he said.

The city’s current sign ordinances were created in 1995, with some updates in 2002.

The proposed ordinances include establishing the maximum sign sizes, where they can be erected or hung, maintenance rules and when the signs have to be removed.

City Council member Deidre Peterson pointed out the proposed requirement that organizers of events must remove their signs within 48 hours of the conclusion of the event. She suggested extending that deadline to five days, and the other council members agreed.