Like clockwork, the first signs of the warmer, sunnier weather of spring and summer in Marysville awaken the active spirit in our community, as families, neighbors and outdoor enthusiasts get out and enjoy local parks, trails and sidewalk shopping.

Unfortunately, this is also the time of year when Marysville, like many other communities, sees a pickup in graffiti, vandalism and general disorderly activity. It is frustrating and disgusting to see this, since we all want a cleaner, more attractive and livable community.

The city through its Police and Parks and Recreation departments, Code Enforcement Office, Graffiti Task Force and leadership from elected leaders have all taken a proactive stance in responding to these quality of life issues. We have made remarkable headway in recent years, and we are continually adopting new approaches and activities to address these problems.

But we need help, and that’s where you come in. We need to work together to curb these senseless crimes before they proliferate throughout the city and become an ever bigger problem. You can be an extra set of eyes and ears for our police. Be vigilant when you are out using parks, trails and enjoying the outdoors this spring and summer, as well as in your own neighborhood. If you witness an act of graffiti, vandalism or suspicious activity that might be vandalism, or you have information that can help catch the perpetrators, please call 911 immediately so that police can respond. Gather as much information as possible – time, date, place, suspect and vehicle description. Photos are helpful, too.

Graffiti is a serious problem that negatively impacts commerce, reduces property values, creates blight and increases the propensity for gang-related activity.

The city has been aggressive in education and enforcement efforts that have cracked down on graffiti and tagging, but it remains a problem.

Graffiti and vandalism are a sight that has become too common in recent summers. For Marysville, the damage adds up to an ugly, expensive problem. In 2010, it cost city taxpayers more than $22,250 to address property damage caused by vandals — this does not take into account the costs associated with law enforcement and code enforcement response. The City Council has spent a great deal in recent years to develop parks, trails and provide important community facilities. Destruction of parks and parks equipment add an extra cost burden on you, the taxpayer.

This year, through efforts of the city’s hard-working Graffiti Task Force, various departments and the City Attorney’s Office, we have developed some new initiatives to deal with graffiti and vandalism.

Graffiti usually pops up in public places such as on playground equipment and street signs. Another common spot for graffiti is on homeowners’ fences facing streets.

Graffiti and the blight it creates is self-perpetuating — if it isn’t removed promptly (within 24-48 hours), studies show that the frequency and amount will increase. City laws in force since 2007 require removal from property within 48 hours of the city receiving notice of a violation.

The city realizes that this can place an undue burden on homeowners. To that end, the city is reaching over the fence to help neighbors get rid of graffiti speedily in order to deter recurring graffiti vandalism from becoming a lingering eyesore. Under a new Graffiti Abatement Program, the city will ensure removal of graffiti from fences at no expense to homeowners. The main focus is fences that are visible from streets and high-traffic areas prone to attacks by taggers and graffiti vandals.

In order to participate, residents must sign a Consent to Enter Onto Property to Abate Graffiti granting city workers permission to enter the homeowner’s property to remove future graffiti from their fences at no cost. Essentially, city workers only need access to frontage outside the fence facing a street. A letter also accompanies the form asking residents to choose from three colors of paint that will best match their fence. The city’s Code Enforcement Officer has already mailed the information to more than 200 homes. If you are interested, visit the city website at http://marysvillewa.gov to download the forms, then mail or drop them off at the City Community Development Department, 80 Columbia Ave.

The city is also planning to fight back against graffiti through a first-ever community-wide Graffiti Paint Out. Join the city of Marysville, active duty members of Navy Recruiting District — Seattle and others as we mobilize neighbors to eliminate graffiti “hot spots” around our community.

Volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 in the Cedarcrest Middle School north parking lot, 6400 88th St. NE, to receive painting materials and location assignments that will direct them to several places around Marysville and street-side fences where homeowners have been victimized.

We want this event to send a clear message to graffiti vandals and taggers that our community has zero tolerance for graffiti. We hope you will join us in eradicating the unsightly blight that it creates along streets and in our neighborhoods.

To sign up for the Graffiti Paint Out, or other volunteer opportunities, contact Parks Maintenance Manager Mike Robinson at 360-363-8406 or e-mail mrobinson@marysvillewa.gov. You can also visit our website any time to report graffiti using our Graffiti Online Reporting Form, which also lets you attach photos of the damage, helpful intelligence for police and city workers who can respond with cleanup.

Police and Parks officials have one more added tool this summer to address issues that occur in our parks system. A Park Code was developed and adopted into the Marysville Municipal Code by way of the Park Board and City Council.

These new laws and policies will let park visitors and families recreate more enjoyably knowing that police and Parks personnel have more tools now to deal with vandals, trouble-makers and scofflaws who can disrupt an otherwise pleasant day at the park.

The code covers several areas of concern including defacing of property, littering, unleashed or abandoned animals, weapons, and trespassing by scofflaws who have already been banned from a park or are there after closing hours. The laws help police officials and park administration in enforcing current policies, and establish civil infractions and police enforcement and/or administrative sanctions that can range from expulsion from a park for a week, up to a year for more than two offenses, or harsher penalties.

Violators are subject to a civil infraction and police enforcement and/or administrative sanctions, with immediate expulsion from a park ranging from a seven-day ban for a first offense, 90 days a second time, and a year for more than two offenses. A wide range of illegal disorderly behavior can turn a park into an unwelcome, unattractive and ultimately unsafe public space that carries added public safety and park maintenance costs.

As a community, we must not tolerate the senseless activity of graffiti and vandalism. Let’s work together to address these ongoing problems, to ensure that our neighborhoods and parks are clean, attractive and safe places where families and kids can relax and enjoy a better quality of life.

Mayor Jon Nehring can be reached at mayor@marysvillewa.gov.