Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 2 Payment of Vandalism and Graffiti Reward

Section

19.129.8 Payment Limitations. 19.129.9 Interest.

1. A trust fund entitled “Vandalism and Graffiti Reward Trust Fund”, to be administered by the City Clerk, is hereby established in the City Treasury. The Fund shall be for the deposit of money for the payment of rewards to persons who have provided information leading to the offender’s: (1) identification; (2) apprehension; and (3) conviction or final adjudication by the Juvenile Court, or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California.

2. The City may provide an appropriation to the Fund in the budget each year as a part of the appropriations to the Special Purpose Funds, and the City Council, subject to the approval of the Mayor, may appropriate other money from time to time during the year, as needed, to accomplish the payment of rewards provided for in this article.

3. All monetary gifts, contributions or bequests accepted by the City for the purposes set forth herein shall be placed in the Fund. All gifts, contributions or bequests to the Fund which exceed $5,000 shall be submitted to the City Council for acceptance or rejection. All gifts, contribution or bequests of $5,000 or less may be accepted or rejected by the City Clerk.

   SECTION HISTORY

   Added by Ord. No. 164,743, Eff. 5-21-89. Amended by: Ord. No. 166,507, Eff. 1-20-91; Subsec. 3, Ord. No. 167,975, Eff. 7-13-92; Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.

1. For the purposes of this article, “graffiti” means any form of unauthorized inscription, word, figure or design which is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, sprayed, painted or otherwise affixed to or on any surface of public or private property, including but not limited to buildings, walls, signs, structures or places, or other surfaces regardless of its content or nature and regardless of the nature of the material of that structural component or property.

2. The City of Los Angeles may offer and pay a reward of $2,000 in response to acts of a graffiti-related vandalism or defacement that results in damage or destruction to public or private property in the City of Los Angeles.

3. Any person interested in seeking a reward under this article shall complete an “Information and Application for Reward” form prepared by and available from the Office of the City Clerk. In the event the applicant is under 18 years of age, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian must also sign the form indicating the parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to the submission of the application. The applicant shall mail the completed form to the Los Angeles Police Department (Department) at the address indicated on the form. All applications must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the act referred to in the application.

4. The Department shall review the completed form and if it believes the applicant has met the criteria of this article for receiving an award, shall transmit a report to the City Council recommending payment of a reward. In the event the information resulted in a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer, the name of the juvenile shall not appear in the report. The Department shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California. If the Department determines that the applicant has not met the criteria to receive a reward, then the Department shall, in writing, notify the applicant. If the applicant disagrees with the determination of the Department, the applicant may submit a written appeal to the City Council. The appeal shall set forth in writing the reasons why the person disagrees with the Department’s determination. All appeals shall be submitted to the City Clerk within 60 days after the date notification is sent. The City Council decision on the appeal shall be final.

5. Upon the Clerk’s receipt of the Department’s report recommending payment of a reward, the City Council may, by adoption of a motion, resolution or committee report, approve the payment of a reward to the applicant and instruct the City Clerk to file the necessary

report with the City Controller to cause the reward to be paid from the Vandalism and Graffiti Reward Trust Fund.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 164,743, Eff. 5-21-89. Amended by: Ord. No. 166,507, Eff. 1-20-91; Subsecs. 2, 3, and 5, Ord. No. 167,975, Eff. 7-13-92; Subsecs. 2 and 5, Ord. No. 168,217, Eff. 10-3-92; Subsecs. 2 and 5, Ord. No. 174,798, Eff. 10-12-02; Subsec. 1, Ord. No. 180,708, Eff. 7-6-09; Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.

1. The determination of whether a reward shall be paid by the City shall be at the sole discretion of the City Council, and neither the provisions of this article or the furnishing of information in response thereto shall create any legal right or claim to the payment of a reward.

2. The City Council shall have sole discretion in determining whether a reward shall be apportioned among two or more persons. In the event more than one person is entitled to share in the reward money, it shall be apportioned equally among claimants unless the City Council determines otherwise.

3. A reward shall be paid only to natural person or persons and no reward or portion thereof shall be paid to any corporation, business, club or other organization either directly or by virtue of any waiver or assignment on the part of a natural person who is the recipient of a reward.

4. No reward shall be paid to a public officer or employee whose employment includes law enforcement duties. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Department.

5. No reward shall be paid to any person who has already been or will be compensated by the person’s employer or paid in any manner for engaging in the actions which form the basis for claiming the reward. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Department.

6. No reward shall be paid to any person who committed or was involved in any of the acts of vandalism, graffiti or other defacement under consideration. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Department.

7. No reward provided for in this article shall be paid without the provisions of the article having been first satisfied and the City Council having first adopted a motion, resolution, or committee report providing for payment of the reward.

   SECTION HISTORY

   Added by Ord. No. 164,743, Eff. 5-21-89. Amended by: Ord. No. 166,507, Eff. 1-20-91; Ord. No. 167,975, Eff. 7-13-92; Subsec. 2, Ord. No. 168,217, Eff. 10-3-92; Subsec. 2, Ord. No. 174,798, Eff. 10-12-02; Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.

Interest accruing on money deposited into the Vandalism and Graffiti Trust Fund shall be distributed by the City Treasurer to the General Fund.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 164,743, Eff. 5-21-89. Amended by: Ord. No. 166,507, Eff. 1-20-91; Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.

The City Clerk shall report to the City Council regarding and identifying all receipts into, and all expenditures out of, the Vandalism and Graffiti Reward Trust Fund, as well as the purposes for which the expenditures were made. Each report shall cover a fiscal year and shall be submitted within 60 days after the close of each fiscal year.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 171,746, Eff. 11-9-97. Amended by: Ord. No. 184,048, Eff. 3-7-16.

ARTICLE 2.1

ILLEGAL DUMPING REWARD PROGRAM

Section

1. A trust fund entitled “Illegal Dumping Reward Program Trust Fund,” to be administered by the City Clerk, is established in the City Treasury. The Fund shall be for the deposit of money for, and payment of rewards to persons who, in response to the offer of reward, have provided information resulting in the identification, apprehension and conviction or a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California, of, or as to, the person or persons who have committed acts of illegal dumping.

2. The City may provide an appropriation to the Fund in the budget each year as a part of the appropriations to the Special Purpose Funds, and the City Council, subject to the approval of the Mayor, may appropriate other money from time to time during the year, as needed, to accomplish the payment of rewards provided for in this article.

3. All monetary gifts, contributions or bequests accepted by the City for the purposes set forth in this section shall be placed in the Fund. All gifts contributions or bequests to the Fund which exceed $5,000 shall be submitted to the City Council for acceptance or rejection. All gifts, contribution or bequests of $5,000 or less may be accepted or rejected by the City Clerk.

   SECTION HISTORY

   Article and Section Added by Ord. No. 174,789, Eff. 10-5-02.

1. For the purposes of this article, “illegal dumping” means depositing or causing to be deposited any combustible or noncombustible rubbish or any refuse of any kind whatsoever upon or in any street, or upon any private premises in this City, or in the Los Angeles River, or in the bed of the River without having obtained a written permit to do so from the Board of Public Works and from the owner of the premises upon which it is proposed to deposit noncombustible rubbish.

2. The City of Los Angeles may pay a reward of $1,000 for information resulting in the identification, apprehension and conviction, or a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California, of, or as to, any person or persons who has or have committed acts of illegal dumping.

3. Any person who is providing or has provided information as to the identity of a person or persons who has or have committed acts of illegal dumping, shall complete an “Information and Application for Reward” form prepared by and available from the Office of the City Clerk. In the event the applicant is under 18 years of age, the applicant’s parent or legal guardian must also sign the form indicating the parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to the submission of the application. Upon completion, the applicant shall mail the form to the Los Angeles Police Department (“Department”) at the address indicated on the form. All applications must be submitted within 60 days of the date of the act referred to in the application.

4. A determination shall be made by the Department, in consultation as necessary with the Office of the City Attorney, Office of the District Attorney, the Probation Department and the Juvenile Court, as to whether the information has resulted in the identification, apprehension and conviction, or a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California, of or as to any person or persons who has or have committed an act or acts of illegal dumping. If it so determines, the Department shall transmit a report to the City Council setting forth the information, the name of the person providing such information, and recommending payment of a reward. In the event the information resulted in a final adjudication by the Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer the name of the juvenile shall not appear in the report and in all other respects the Department shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California. If the Department determines that no conviction or final adjudication by a Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program has resulted from the information provided, the Department shall in writing so notify the person providing the information. If the person receiving this notice disagrees with the determination of the Department, that person may appeal to the Council. The appeal shall set forth in writing the reasons why the person disagrees with the Department’s determination and shall request Council determination as to entitlement to a reward. All appeals shall be submitted to the Council within 60 days after the date notification is sent.

5. Upon review of the reports or appeals and any other information, evidence, finding or report it deems relevant, the City Council shall determine whether the information submitted resulted in the identification, apprehension and conviction, or a final adjudication by a Juvenile Court or placement on a supervised program by the probation officer under the Welfare and Institutions Code of the State of California, of, or as to, the person or persons responsible in whole or in part for the act or acts of illegal dumping, under consideration. If the Council by adoption of a motion, resolution or committee report makes this determination, it shall approve the payment of a reward in the sum of $1,000 in the aggregate to the person or persons identified as having submitted information, and instruct the City Clerk to file the necessary report with the City Controller to cause the reward to be paid as directed by Council, from the Illegal Dumping Reward Program Trust Fund.

   SECTION HISTORY

   Added by Ord. No. 174,789, Eff. 10-5-02.

1. The determination of whether a reward shall be paid by the City shall be in the sole discretion of the City Council, and neither the provisions of Subsection 2 of Section 19.129.7 with respect to a reward payment nor the furnishing of information in response shall create any legal right or claim to the payment of a reward.

2. The Council shall have sole discretion in determining whether a reward shall be apportioned among two or more persons. In the event more than one person is entitled to share in the $1,000 reward, the reward money shall be appropriated equally among claimants unless the Council, for good cause, determines otherwise.

3. A reward shall be paid only to a natural person or persons and no reward or portion of a reward shall be paid to any corporation, business, club or other organization either directly or by virtue of any waiver or assignment on the part of a natural person who is the recipient of a reward.

4. No reward shall be paid to a public officer or employee whose employment includes duties of law enforcement. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.

5. No reward shall be paid to any person who has already been or will be compensated by the person’s employer or paid in some other manner for engaging in the actions which form the basis for claiming the reward. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.

6. No reward shall be paid to any person or persons who committed or were involved in any of the acts of illegal dumping under consideration. Verification of eligibility shall be provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.

7. No reward provided for in this Article 2.1 shall be paid without the provisions of the article having been first satisfied and the City Council having first adopted a motion, resolution, or committee report providing for said payment.

   SECTION HISTORY

   Added by Ord. No. 174,789, Eff. 10-5-02.

Interest accruing on money deposited into the Illegal Dumping Reward Program Trust Fund shall be distributed by the City Treasurer to the General Fund and shall not accrue to the benefit of any one or more reward payment.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 174,789, Eff. 10-5-02.

The City Clerk shall report to the City Council regarding and identifying all receipts into, and all expenditures out of, the Illegal Dumping Reward Program Trust Fund, as well as the purposes for which the expenditures were made. Each report shall cover a fiscal year and shall be submitted within 60 days after the close of the fiscal year.

SECTION HISTORY

Added by Ord. No. 174,789, Eff. 10-5-02.