By Jorge Casuso

June 6, 2025 -- Santa Monica's constant race to remove graffiti proliferating on surfaces across the city will cost local taxpayers more than $1.7 million over the next five years.

That includes a five-year $697,320 contract with Woods Maintenance Services, Inc. -- dba Graffiti Control Systems -- the City Council is expected to approve as part of Tuesday's Consent Calendar.

The new contract is nearly double the current $357,205 contract with the company, which was the only bidder, according to the staff report from the Public Works Facilities Maintenance division.

Graffiti Control Systems will help two full-time City graffiti technicians remove more than 40,000 graffiti incidences a year, staff said.

The average salary for a graffiti removal technician in Santa Monica is $115,870 per year, according to govsalaries.com.

"The high frequency of graffiti incidences (requires) the need for prompt removal of offensive and intimidation graffiti," staff wrote in its report to the Council.

In addition, "the limitations of available City equipment and staffing capacity creates a continuous need for contracted graffiti removal support,"

Graffiti Control Systems removes 22,000 incidences a year, including "urgent removals involving gang-related graffiti and inflammatory hate speech or symbols."

The contractor is also "essential for more complex removals, including those on multi-story buildings, areas with limited landing space, or sites that pose safety risks to City staff," according to the report.

Graffiti is removed from "a wide range of surfaces, including buildings, infrastructure, poles, and signage," according to staff.

"This work extends to properties such as City buildings, parking structures, sidewalks, benches, utility poles, street signs, and trash bins, as well as commercial buildings, multi-family residences, and alley walls."

"Regardless of location, timely graffiti removal is essential, as graffiti detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the community, diminishes the public’s sense of safety and wellbeing, and can contribute to broader public safety concerns," staff wrote.