Politics & Government
Council to Consider Ban on Sex Offenders in City Parks
Councilman Steve Baric proposed an ordinance that would be similar to a recent law passed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Rancho Santa Margarita should institute a ban on sex offenders in city parks, a council member said Wednesday.
At the May 25 City Council meeting, Steve Baric asked city staff and elected officials to consider creating an ordinance that would prevent registered sex offenders from entering city parks without getting special police permission first.
The proposed ordinance would be the . The law affects county-owned parks, harbors and beaches and does not affect city owned parks.
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“I don’t have any concerns about enforcement,” Baric said. “I have all the faith in the world in our sheriff deputies to implement the policy fairly and aggressively.”
Baric said in the was one of the factors that led him to propose the ordinance.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City staff said they would put the item up for discussion on an upcoming agenda.
One possible challenge of the proposed ordinance is that RSM does not own the parks within the city limits. The city’s parks are owned and maintained by the city homeowners associations.
City officials would have to work with the associations to hammer out the details of enforcement.
Councilman Jerry Holloway said he thinks the ordinance is “a great idea.”
“As a matter of fact, if we could figure out a way to keep sex offenders out of this city completely, I’d be a happy guy,” Holloway said.
“Because this, to me, is a no brainer,” he added.
Other business
- As many local schools enter prom season, to continue to remind students not to drink and drive.
- The Rancho Santa Margarita Relay for Life is coming up June 11-12.
- City Hall will be closed Memorial Day.
