Rachel Harlow-Schalk, City Manager

Steve Hagen, Chief of Police

Helena does not have a formal graffiti removal program. Depending on location, the City addresses removal or engages in conversations with private property owners to complete removal. 

The Helena Business Improvement District (HBID) is concerned with the the amount of graffiti appearing in Helena's Downtown.   HBID has worked with Clean Slate Group on a graffiti abatement plan.   The HBID is requesting the Helena City Commission consider an ordinance requiring property owners to remove graffiti within a specific time frame similar to what is done in Billings, Great Falls and Kalispell.  If the graffiti is not removed within the required time, the HBID would remove the graffiti if within the HBID boundary. Bozeman and Missoula use a voluntary removal plan administered through partnerships with property owners. Micky Zurcher, Executive Director of the HBID will be in attendance along with the Clean Slate Group to provide a presentation on their graffiti research.

There are several options to consider-

1. Pass a Helena-wide Graffiti Ordinance similar to Great Falls, Billings, and Kalispell with HBID responsible for clean-up within their boundary.    

• Staff does not recommend this approach.   There is a gap in removal outside of the HBID.   This requires city to enforce this ordinance citywide. Also depending on ordinance language it may cause owner of property outside of HBID to pay a fee or be charged with a misdemeanor crime.  

2. HBID along with Clean Slate Group and a designated city department would use volunteers  to work with property owners throughout Helena to remove graffiti as reported through My Helena App similar to what is done in Bozeman and Missoula as a partnership opportunity. 

• Staff recommends this approach.    This is an solution where the City of Helena coordinates the program and partners with HBID and property owners to remove graffiti city-wide.   This is a consistent city-wide solution that does not require enforcement and applies equally to all property owners. There would be annual investment required by the City to purchase removal materials as well as volunteer supervision needed. 

3. HBID works with Clean Slate Group and property owners for voluntary compliance within the district boundaries.    

• Staff does not have a recommendation on this approach as it would not involve city staff.