Little Elm establishes Child Safety Zones
By LAURA CHILDRESS

With registered sex offender residency requirements a hot topic in many municipalities, the Little Elm council added the town's name Tuesday night to the growing list of those imposing residency restrictions.

The council, however, took it a step further, establishing Child Safety Zones where offenders, regardless of their city of residence, many not even "hang out.” Under the new regulations, registered sex offenders may not reside within 1,000 feet of public parks, playgrounds, schools, libraries, swimming pools, day care centers or other facilities where children normally gather. Registered sex offenders, regardless of where they live, are also prevented from loitering in these areas deemed Child Safety Zones.

The residency restrictions do not apply to registered sex offenders already living in town or to juveniles moving here with their parents. In addition, the regulations apply strictly to those registered offenders convicted of a crime involving a child.

Police Chief Waylan Rhodes noted the establishment of the new Child Safety Zone regulations was a "giant step in protecting our children.” While the council agreed that protecting the children of the community was of the utmost importance, they disagreed over the need for residency requirements.

With the 1,000-foot restriction area covering roughly 68 percent of the town, Councilwoman Beverly Hughes said such regulations were unfair to those residents living in the remaining 32 percent of town.

Town attorney Robert Brown noted that a 2,000-foot restriction would ban offenders from over 90 percent of the town, an action more legally questionable.

Councilwoman Brenda Mills added that she was concerned the residency requirements would merely send sex offenders coming into the town underground.

Rhodes noted that while that was always a possibility, sex offenders had seven days to register upon moving to a new home. If they failed to register in that time, a warrant would be issued for their arrest.

Mayor Frank Kastner also voiced concerns regarding the town's fiscal liability should the new Child Safety Zone regulations be challenged in court.

"We're on unchartered waters here and would be the pioneer of Child Safety Zones," he said. "Yes, we need to protect our children, but at the same time we have a fiscal responsibility to citizens," he said.

Council members Brandon Gerard and Stephanie Shoemaker noted that the Child Safety Zone made no sense without residency restrictions.

Just as imposing residency restrictions without the overlaying Child Safety Zone regulations was ridiculous, Gerard said the reverse was true.

"It doesn't make any sense telling them they can't visit but it's okay to live here," Gerard said.

Rhodes noted that registered sex offenders were not banned from entering these zones as long as they were conducting business or visiting family or friends.

"We just don't want them hanging out were they are most tempted, and that's where our children are," he said.

Shoemaker added that it was the responsibility of residents to notice suspicious characters and report them to the police.

The council approved the residency restrictions by a 3-2 vote, with Hughes and Mills in opposition. The Child Safety Zone regulations were approved unanimously.

Richard Stevens, pastor of Living Word Baptist Church, noted that while the regulations were a good start, additional measures were needed.

"What you're suggesting is making a good start," he said. "I'm behind giving law enforcement every tool available, but as a town I think we need to expand our vision.” Stevens recommended that the community also look at ways to educate those living with sex offenders, form a cooperative plan including the schools and churches to keep offenders in counseling, seek guidance from area advocacy centers in education the population on the signs a child is being molested, support and advertise hotlines for teens and preteens, immediately establish a victim's advocate and keep sexually oriented businesses off Eldorado Parkway, FM 720, FM 423 and Hwy. 380.

In other business during Tuesday's meeting, the council: * Approved, following a public hearing, the rezoning of 13 tracts along Hwy. 380 recently annexed, including an 83-acre tract as Multi-Family 2.

* Approved the annexation of 114.6 acres of Spiritas Ranch south of Hwy. 380 and rezoning of the property as light commercial and light industrial.

* Approved an ordinance allowing the town to continue to tax "super freeport goods," personal property in transit.

* Welcomed Jason Laumer, the town's first in-house engineer.

* Approved the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the Oct. 16 precouncil meeting, public hearing and regular council meeting and Oct. 23 special meeting and work session; and final acceptance of water, sewer, drainage and street improvements for Sunset Pointe Phase 16.

* Voted to allow business owners along Eldorado Parkway to apply for an extension on building dumpster enclosures. The business owner must prove that their property and the placement of their dumpster will be affected by the pending widening of Eldorado and a hardship will exist as a result.

* Amended an ordinance establishing rules and regulations for use of the new bulk courtesy drop site at the town's service center. The site has also been equipped with surveillance cameras and signs notifying the public of what isn't allowed.

* Appointed council members Mills and Gerard, fire chief Joe Florentino and finance director Ryan Adams to a committee also consisting of Lakewood Village council representatives to work on a proposed interlocal agreement for fire and ambulance services.

* Cast its 28 votes for Steve Mossman, county tax assessor, to serve on the Denton County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

* Disannexed 16.494 acres inadvertently annexed along Hwy. 380 because of an error in the legal description.

* Authorized the mayor to draft a letter to the town's U.S. senators expressing its opposition to Senate Bill 2123 regarding an unfunded federal mandate.