Eagle Pass council adopts child-safety residency ordinance after executive session

The Eagle Pass City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on May 15 establishing a child-safety zone and a 1,500-foot residency restriction for registered offenders whose offenses involve children.

The measure, presented by the police department and the offender-compliance unit, applies to people who register as sex offenders and would bar them from residing within 1,500 feet of locations “where children commonly gather,” including schools, day cares, parks, playgrounds and public swimming pools, a police presenter said. The proposal also authorizes signage and provides the police department will maintain maps of prohibited areas available for public inspection.

“The purpose is to protect children and enhance public safety,” Detective Joe Rivera said during the presentation. He told council the department’s mapping showed 26 registered offenders in city limits, 17 of whom lived within 1,500 feet of a school, park or pool.

City staff said the ordinance would apply after adoption to people who move into the city or change residence; current residents are not immediately displaced. Council members asked how the city would track moves and enforce the restriction; presenters noted state law requires offenders to report address changes and the offender-compliance unit already conducts periodic checks.

Council approved the ordinance on a voice vote after the council returned from executive session. The order returned the matter to the council with direction and final adoption following the closed review.

The ordinance cites the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62 in the presentation; council members noted state law can authorize restrictions up to 3,000 feet and discussed the local choice of a 1,500-foot standard.

Next steps include publication of the ordinance language and implementation of signage and a public map at the police department, staff said.