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<br />ORDINANCE NO. 06-1810 <br /> <br />AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, <br />ESTABLISHING CHAPTER 77 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES <br />ENTITLED SEXUAL OFFENDERS; DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS; <br />MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENDERS TO <br />RESIDE WITHIN 1000 FEET OF PREMISES WHERE CHILDREN <br />GATHER; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS TO THE ORDINANCE; <br />PROHIBITING PROPERTY OWNERS FROM RENTING REAL <br />PROPERTY TO CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENDERS; PROVIDING <br />PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE ORDINANCE; REPEALING <br />ORDINANCES OR PART OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT <br />THEREWITH; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND <br />PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT AND BE <br />IN FORCE FIVE DAYS AFTER THE DESCRIPTIVE CAPTION IS <br />PUBLISHED WITHIN TEN DAYS OF FINAL PASSAGE IN THE <br />BRAZOSPORT FACTS. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City of Lake Jackson Texas, being a home rule city having <br />authority to utilize police power regulation for the health, safety, and general welfare of <br />the citizens of the city; and, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lake Jackson, Texas is deeply <br />concerned about the numerous and recent occurrences in our state and elsewhere, <br />whereby convicted sex offenders who have been released from custody repeat the <br />unlawful acts for which they had been originally convicted; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lake Jackson, Texas, finds from the <br />evidence the recidivism rate for released sex offenders is alarmingly high, especially for <br />those who commit their crimes on children; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City is becoming an increasingly attractive place for younger <br />families with small children; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Council finds that establishing a policy to restrict the <br />property available for residence of sex offenders will provide better protection for <br />children gathering in the City; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Article 42.12(138) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, <br />provides a 1000 foot safety zone for children, as a condition of probation for those <br />convicted of certain sexual offenses; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the laws of the State of Texas, including those found in Chapter 51 <br />of the Texas Local Government Code provide the City authority to adopt ordinances for <br />the good government, peace order and welfare of the municipality; <br /> <br />NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE <br />JACKSON, TEXAS: <br />