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Politics & Government

Final Vote on New Port Richey Sex Offender Ordinance Tonight

Map of 2,500-foot circles around schools, daycare centers, parks, churches could, essentially, leave few pockets in 4.5-square-mile city where sexual offenders can legally live.

The is expected Tuesday to formally adopt an amendment to the city's sexual offender residency requirements that plugs a "void" in state statutes.

It mandates that all newcomers convicted of sexual crimes elsewhere register with city police and comply with city residency prohibitions -- even if they were not required to do so in their former jurisdictions.

The council will review the proposed ordinance during its regularly scheduled meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 5919 Main St.

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The council unanimously approved the amendment during its May 17 meeting, setting the stage for formal adoption on Tuesday.

Florida law prohibits those convicted of sexual crimes from living within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center, church, park or playground. New Port Richey is among more than 60 Florida municipalities with a 2,500-foot residency prohibition.

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According to Jeffrey Harrington, there is "a " in state statutes in requiring sexual offenders who move to Florida from other states, or even into the city from other Florida jurisdictions, to register with local law enforcement agencies and comply with local residency restrictions.

Therefore, the proposed amendment to the city's 2005 sexual offender registry ordinance adds that "people convicted of similar (sexual) offenses in other jurisdictions" to comply with the ordinance's 2,500-foot prohibition.

To ensure they are not living within 2,500 feet of a school, day care center, church, park or playground, the amended ordinance will explicitly require those convicted of sexual crimes to register with city police.

City officials were encouraged to review its sexual offender ordinance by Delaware Avenue resident , who first approached the council on March 15 with concerns about what he perceived as a growing population of sexual offenders living in the city and, in some instances, near schools.

During his appearance before the council on May 17, Harris said two years ago, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement identified 18 sexual offenders living in the city. The FDLE's email notification system alerted him about five times a year to new arrivals in the city convicted of sexual crimes, he said.

Now, Harris said, he receives 25 to 30 notifications from the FDLE about sexual offenders moving into New Port Richey. Yet, he said, when he checked with city police, they did not know some were living in the city.

The 2,500-foot prohibition already leaves few places in the 4.5-square-mile city where sexual offenders can legally live, council members noted.

One way to illustrate that would be by drawing a map with 2,500-foot circles around every school, daycare, park, and church to see where -- if anywhere -- it would be legal for a convicted sexual offender to live.

Other items on Tuesday's agenda: 

  • Select a new city attorney.

Michael Davis and Susan Churuti, of Bryant Miller Olive’s Tampa Office, have been serving as interim city attorney and deputy interim city attorney since Feb. 1, shortly after longtime chose not to renew his contract.

The interim attorney contract with Bryant Miller Olive ended May 31, with the option to extend. Bryant Miller Olive applied for the new city attorney contract along with eight other firms. After interviewing representatives from two other firms, the to see if Bryant Miller Olive would lower the price of their contract.

In addition to Churuti and Davis of Bryant Miller Olive, other firms interviewed by the council on May 17 were:  Jay Daigneault, of Hubbard, Brandt, Trask, Yacavone, Metz & Daigneault, of Dunedin; and Andrew J. Salzman and Caitlin Sirico, of Zimmet, Unice and Salzman, of Palm Harbor.

  • City Auditor Peter Schaetzel will present a comprehensive annual fiscal report -- essentially, an audit -- of Fiscal Year 2010, which ended on Sept. 30.

The audit could highlight performance and cost-cutting measures the council could replicate while cobbling together the city's Fiscal Year 2012 budget -- a tentative that features a $909,000 revenue shortfall.

  • A proposed special exemption for church and counseling center use in a residential area in the former Disabled American Veterans' Post 78 at 6711 Jefferson St.
  •  A $200,000 proposal to install new pipe-lining in 20 sewer lines in the city by Reynolds Inliner, LLC.
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