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Weston approves ordinance banning registered sex offenders from public parks on first reading
Summary
On first reading the City Commission adopted a new city code section (52.48) making it a violation for registered sex offenders to be present in city parks; commissioners and police said enforcement will rely on reports to BSO and existing registration notifications.
The City Commission on March 3 approved on first reading an ordinance creating section 52.48 of the City Code to prohibit registered sex offenders from being present in public parks.
City Attorney Jamie Cole summarized the change as closing an ‘‘incongruity’’ between existing residency limits and park access: the code already prohibits convicted offenders from living within 2,500 feet of places where children gather but did not prevent those individuals from visiting parks. "So this will alleviate that and this basically says that registered *** offenders shall not be in the parks," Cole said.
Commissioner Byron Jaffe described the ordinance as overdue and cited research on recidivism during discussion, calling the measure among the "most important" ordinances he has voted on. Commissioner Merlene Murphy (who worked with the city attorney on the draft) and others expressed similar support, stressing child safety.
Several residents asked about enforcement. Broward Sheriff's Office Chief Sam Cavallari said his deputies will investigate reported incidents and, if the individual is verifiably a registered offender in the city, they can be charged under the municipal code. "If information is received regarding a ... predator in a park, we will investigate it," Cavallari said. He added that BSO receives notifications when registered offenders enter Weston and that deputies will notify those individuals about local restrictions.
The ordinance was moved by Commissioner Jaffe, seconded by Commissioner Andrade, and passed by a unanimous roll-call vote. The first reading was approved; further procedural steps are required before final adoption.
