Parkland Commission Passes Ordinance To Keep Sexual Predators Out Of City

By Nicol Jenkins
Editor

Parkland commissioners are making it more difficult for sexual predators to live in the city.

The City Commission recently approved a new ordinance that places the same restrictions on predators convicted in the state and outside of the state.

This new ordinance closes a loophole in a previous ordinance on sexual offenders and sexual predators geared only towards predators convicted in Florida. The new one will now include restrictions for predators convicted in all states.
“The city adopted the sexual predator ordinance previously and is not changing the terms but filling in a loophole of the previous ordinance. Now if someone is found guilty of being a sexual predator in any other state they will be bound by the ordinance,” said Caryn Gardner Young, City Manager for the City of Parkland.

The new ordinance states, “Sexual predators or sexual offenders convicted of crimes under certain Florida statutes or similar statutes in other jurisdictions are restricted from living within 2500 feet of specified locations within the city of Parkland including schools, and prohibiting owners of real property from renting or leasing any place, structure, trailer or other conveyance located within 2500 feet of specified locations within the city to sexual predators or sexual offenders convicted of crimes.”

Parkland is not the first city that has strengthened laws for predators.

“We’re being consistent with what everyone is doing out there,” Gardner Young said.

This ordinance was passed to keep the children of Parkland safe, according to Gardner Young. Currently there is only one registered sexual predator residing in the city of Parkland and predators are restricted from schools, parks, and preserves, Young added.

“The commissions’ belief is that they must protect the children of Parkland,” Gardner Young said. “This is why it was originally adopted, but they wanted to amend it to make sure children are protected to the highest degree. They closed the loophole to benefit the residents.”