Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council pauses vote on expanding employment restrictions for registered offenders after legal review
Summary
Council considered an amendment to a registered-offender ordinance to bar employment within 1,000 feet of locations where children commonly gather. Megan Webb of the Children's Advocacy Center urged support; council moved the item into closed session for legal guidance and deferred action to the next meeting.
Council heard testimony and legal briefing on a proposed amendment to the city's registered-offender ordinance that would prohibit registered offenders from being employed within a defined distance of places where children commonly gather.
Police Chief Stefanik described the proposed change and asked council to consider amending the existing residency restriction to include employment restrictions within 1,000 feet of child-focused premises. Megan Webb, CEO of the Children's Advocacy Center, told the council she supported "reasonable restrictions on where registered offenders may work, particularly in positions or environments that place them in close proximity to children and other vulnerable populations." After questions from council about legal vulnerability, the council voted to go into closed session for legal guidance; after returning the council (on recommendation of legal counsel) directed further work and scheduled the item to return on the next council agenda rather than taking action that night.
The council did not adopt the amendment at this meeting; staff and the city attorney will perform additional legal review and bring a revised proposal back to council.
