Story Created:
Mar 11, 2010 at 4:33 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 11, 2010 at 4:33 PM PST
BELLFLOWER — A revised law concerning where convicted sexual offenders may live will take effect early next month following final action by the City Council Monday night.
A second ordinance Monday night places a freeze on “places of public gathering” within the downtown area, Bellflower Boulevard between Artesia and Alondra boulevards.
Public Safety Director Joel Hockman said the previous ordinance, which took effect Feb. 13, excluded from the residency distance limitation those who committed a sexual offense before the law became official.
But a recent state Supreme Court ruling stated that offenders would be subject to the prohibition about moving into an area within 1,500 feet of a school, church, day care center or park regardless of when their offense was committed.
Hockman’s comments came Feb. 22 as the City Council altered the law on first reading to match the court ruling.
He noted that the 1,500-foot limit concerns only people moving into the city.
Some 125 sexual offenders who already live in the prohibited 1,500-foot distance would not have to move from their current home, but could not move to another location in Bellflower within the restricted distance.
A Bellflower resident who commits an offense and is sent to prison would be considered a “new resident” if he or she tried to move back into the restricted distance.
Hockman said under state law a sexual offender could be one who has molested a child, raped a woman or had consensual sex with a minor under age 18.
Also under the law, a registered sexual offender could not live in an apartment complex, motel unit or other dwelling with another sexual offender, even outside the restricted area, unless they were family members.
Questioned by Councilman Dan Koops, Hockman said it will be up to landlords to ask prospective tenants if they are sexual offenders. If a landlord later finds out that the tenant is a sexual offender, the landlord would be required to evict the tenant.
The moratorium on places of public gathering is for 45 days but can be extended another 10 months and 15 days until planning staff comes up with regulations for such places, said Brian Lee, director of community development.
He said a place of public gathering would be anywhere a large crowd might assemble, such as a movie theater, auditorium, banquet hall, nightclub or community center.
Churches and religious institutions are excluded from the moratorium if they have at least 15,000 square foot of floor space.
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