Council member Sheehan moved on Oct. 14 to place an ordinance amending sections 12-2(c) and 12-5 of the Lexington code of ordinances—measures addressing graffiti enforcement, shortening the interval between citations, calculation of subsequent civil penalties and assessment of administrative inspection costs—noting the item had been postponed from an earlier work session.

Ellinger seconded the motion to add the item to the work-session agenda; the council voted in favor and the motion passed.

Sheehan later offered a formal amendment, presented as text from the law department, to remove the portion of the proposed ordinance that would have added graffiti to Section 12-2 (the nuisance definition) — specifically removing language that would have characterized graffiti as a public nuisance, health hazard or source of filth. Council member Baxter seconded the amendment. The council voted “aye” and the amendment passed.

Following the amendment, Sheehan moved to place the ordinance as amended on the council meeting docket for Thursday, Oct. 23; Vice Mayor Wu seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote.

The changes remaining in the amended proposal as described in council materials include shortening the time between repeat civil citations, adjustments to how subsequent civil penalties are calculated, and an administrative inspection-cost assessment not to exceed $250; Sheehan said she circulated the ordinance language that had come out of the Social Services and Public Safety Committee. The council did not take final legislative action on the ordinance at the Oct. 14 work session; the amended ordinance was placed on the Oct. 23 docket for final consideration.