Got graffiti? Call the Clean Team

News

Staff Writer

If you have a cleanliness or maintenance issue near your Downtown business or property, Downtown Vision Inc. has a new system to report it and resolve it.

The Stakeholder Support System is a Web-based process through which complaints about graffiti, broken windows, litter, debris, odor complaints, property damage, vandalism, weeds, nonworking street lights, human and pet waste, fallen limbs or trees and other safety and health hazards can be reported and mitigated.

“As soon as an issue is reported, the system notifies you via e-mail that the request has been received and then a message goes to the Downtown Ambassadors,” said Amy Harrell, DVI’s director of district services. “In most cases, we can resolve the issue in 24 hours or less.”

Reports can be submitted on DVI’s Web site, www.downtownjacksonville.org, or by fax at 634-8988.

Cleanliness and maintenance issues on public property are resolved by the Downtown Ambassadors Clean Team, while complaints about broken windows, property damage, street lights, safety hazards and vandalism will be reported to the appropriate City department or to the property owner.

Law enforcement issues, including panhandling and loitering, should be reported directly to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, said Harrell.

According to DVI’s 2009 Annual Report, last year the Ambassadors resolved 351 of 590 cleanliness and maintenance issues reported and removed 8.9 tons of litter from Downtown sidewalks.

In addition to providing services on public property, there’s also a way for Downtown stakeholders to register for graffiti abatement on their property by submitting an authorization form, which is available for download on DVI’s Web site.

After the request is received, the Clean Team will either remove the unauthorized art work with an eco-friendly chemical or cover the graffiti with paint provided by the property owner.

The service is available for properties in the Downtown Improvement District within the boundaries of Market Street, Church Street, Broad Street and Prudential Drive.

If you’ve noticed fewer instances of graffiti Downtown lately, it might be because of the increased effort to remove it as soon as it’s discovered or reported.

“We’re seeing a lot less of it,” said Downtown Ambassador Program Manager Gary Butler. “We had one tagger hitting us almost every night, but since we started cleaning it off every day, he’s stopped doing it.”

Harrell said the Clean Team is averaging close to 100 graffiti removals each month. She doesn’t anticipate the new and improved reporting system will increase the number of cleanliness and maintenance issues, but predicted, “This will help us be more efficient in resolving complaints.”