F6: Good Neighbor Program: Graffiti and Litter Removal and Public Art*

Status

Active

Location

Countywide

Schedule

Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036

Funding

Safe, Clean Water Fund ($13.2 million); Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund

This project allows Valley Water to continue responding to requests for cleanup of illegal dumping, trash and graffiti on Valley Water’s property and rights-of-way. Cleanup efforts include graffiti removal from floodwalls, concrete embankments, signs, structures and other Valley Water assets, as well as maintaining, repairing and installing fences and gates so that Valley Water structures and facilities remain safe and clean. The project also includes quarterly cleanups of problem trash sites to help reduce waterway pollution and keep creeks and riparian areas free of debris. The project also funds installation and maintenance of public art projects, such as murals, to beautify Valley Water property and infrastructure, to help deter graffiti and litter.

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

Valley Water to hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program: Projects E5 and F6

On August 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., the Valley Water Board of Directors will continue the public hearing from July 14, 2026, to receive public comments on a proposed modification to F6: Good Neighbor Program – Graffiti and Litter Removal and Public Art.

The Board will consider expanding the scope of the Public Art Program and revising one KPI. The proposed changes would allow Valley Water to fund eligible public art projects throughout Santa Clara County rather than limiting funding to projects on Valley Water-owned property and infrastructure. The changes would expand community benefits, support public education about water and environmental stewardship, and help deter graffiti and litter.

You can attend in person at Valley Water headquarters at 5700 Almaden Expressway in San Jose or via Zoom at https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84454515597.

More information on Valley Water Board Meetings can be found at the Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes webpage under Board Agendas, Minutes, and Supporting Documents.

Please also see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for this Board Agenda item.

Graffiti and Litter Removal

Fiscal Year FY26 through Quarter 3 (July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026)

Serviced 87 identified graffiti hotspots on a bi-weekly basis to discourage and deter graffiti activities. Removed 9,585 square feet of graffiti from sites based on inspections or public service requests submitted in Access Valley Water. A total of 37,414 square feet of graffiti has been removed through FY26 Q3.
Serviced 107 hotspots for a total of 331 trash and debris cleanup visits. In addition, Valley Water carried out 45 cleanup visits in response to staff inspections and public requests. Valley Water removed approximately 83 tons (1,162 cubic yards) of trash and debris through FY26 Q3.
Valley Water received 138 service requests regarding illegal dumping and trash, and 48 service requests regarding graffiti. All unplanned graffiti and litter cleanups due to public service requests or new work found during inspections were responded to within an average of 1 working day.

Public Art

Valley Water continued to develop a Public Art Strategic Plan with the help of a consultant. The plan includes community input and evaluates art locations at Valley Water facilities and infrastructure. The plan will establish a vision and goals for integrating public art into the agency’s future projects. This strategic plan is expected to be completed in FY26. Once finalized, Valley Water will use the Public Art Strategic Plan as a guiding document to evaluate and determine potential implementation options for a Public Art Program. Future efforts will be assessed for alignment with the strategic plan and their feasibility within Valley Water’s available budget and staffing resources.

For more information:

Graffiti and Litter Removal

Ryan Tregoning, (408) 630-3195

Public Art

Kristen Yasukawa, (408) 630-2876
Email – [email protected] | Hotline - (408) 630-3261
Learn about our Public Art Program

Completed Mural Art Project at Valley Water Headquarters Blossom Hill Annex Building

Valley Water to hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program: Projects E5 and F6

You can attend in person at Valley Water headquarters at 5700 Almaden Expressway in San Jose or via Zoom at https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/84454515597.

More information on Valley Water Board Meetings can be found at the Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes webpage under Board Agendas, Minutes, and Supporting Documents.

Please also see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for this Board Agenda item.

Graffiti and Litter Removal

Fiscal Year FY26 through Quarter 3 (July 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026)

Serviced 87 identified graffiti hotspots on a bi-weekly basis to discourage and deter graffiti activities. Removed 9,585 square feet of graffiti from sites based on inspections or public service requests submitted in Access Valley Water. A total of 37,414 square feet of graffiti has been removed through FY26 Q3.
Serviced 107 hotspots for a total of 331 trash and debris cleanup visits. In addition, Valley Water carried out 45 cleanup visits in response to staff inspections and public requests. Valley Water removed approximately 83 tons (1,162 cubic yards) of trash and debris through FY26 Q3.
Valley Water received 138 service requests regarding illegal dumping and trash, and 48 service requests regarding graffiti. All unplanned graffiti and litter cleanups due to public service requests or new work found during inspections were responded to within an average of 1 working day.

Public Art

Valley Water continued to develop a Public Art Strategic Plan with the help of a consultant. The plan includes community input and evaluates art locations at Valley Water facilities and infrastructure. The plan will establish a vision and goals for integrating public art into the agency’s future projects. This strategic plan is expected to be completed in FY26. Once finalized, Valley Water will use the Public Art Strategic Plan as a guiding document to evaluate and determine potential implementation options for a Public Art Program. Future efforts will be assessed for alignment with the strategic plan and their feasibility within Valley Water’s available budget and staffing resources.

For more information:

Graffiti and Litter Removal

Ryan Tregoning, (408) 630-3195

Public Art

Kristen Yasukawa, (408) 630-2876
Email – [email protected] | Hotline - (408) 630-3261
Learn about our Public Art Program

F6 Fact Sheet (June 2022)

Safe, Clean Water Program Documents

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program

Cleanup identified trash and graffiti hotspots at approximately 80 sites four (4) times per year.
Respond to requests on litter or graffiti cleanup within five (5) working days.
Provide up to $1.5 million over 15 years to implement public art projects on Valley Water property and infrastructure.

Benefits

Reduces trash and contaminants in local waterways
Improves the appearance of waterways in neighborhoods and parks by removing trash, graffiti and litter as well as illegally dumped items, such as cars, shopping carts, appliances, etc.
Reduces illegal dumping into or near waterways by repairing and installing fencing on Valley Water property
Provides coordinated response to community complaints about trash and graffiti in neighborhoods along waterways
Helps deter graffiti and litter by implementing public art projects to beautify Valley Water property and infrastructure

Geographic Area of Benefit

Countywide

About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.

To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.