The City of Lake Forest is expected on December 4 to repeal its existing “sex offender” ordinance which prohibits all registrants from entering the city’s parks. City staff have recommended that the City Council repeal that ordinance in an 11-page report from the city manager which states several reasons for its recommendation, including (1) no supporting evidence that the ordinance has had a measurable effect on public safety, (2) no violations of the ordinance since its passage a year ago, and (3) recent court rulings stating that “this type of ordinance” is preempted by state law.
According to the staff recommendation, there are sufficient resources to protect public safety in the absence of the “sex offender” ordinance. The resources cited include the Orange County Sheriff’s Sex Offender Notification and Registration program and existing state law. The report notes that the cost of defending one existing and one threatened lawsuit against the city “will be substantial, potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
The staff report also notes that “in 9 out of 10 child sexual abuse cases, the perpetrator is someone familiar to them, in many cases a relative or part of their extended family.” The staff recommends that the City consider devoting resources and/or collaborate with other organizations to educate responsible adults “in order to protect the family character of the community.”
Agenda Report – Ordinance (updated links)
December 4th, 7pm
Lake Forest City Hall
25550 Commercentre Drive, Council Chambers
Lake Forest, California 92630
Orange County Register (updated Dec 4, 10 am)
Lake Forest Patch
Please come join California RSOL in Lake Forest on December 4. It would be good to have a large number of supporters there in order to show support for the brave decision the City Council is expected to make. It takes a lot of courage to admit that you have made a mistake. And there will be free CA RSOL buttons for all who show up!
Yes, but would they have ever admitted making a mistake had there not been law suits filed?
I have a fantasy of a chorus of “raspberries” from our group…
Unfortunately, fighting for our rights takes money. We can do this collectively. Money is extremely tight, but if everyone pitches in, we have a shot at restoring some of our rights. Let’s take the challenge, instead of paying for a cup of coffee this week, send at least that amount to CARSOL. If everyone did this, we could raise enough for another law suit. I’ll start, $3.00 for me and 4 for those in prison who can’t contribute.
“I’ll start, $3.00 for me and 4 for those in prison who can’t contribute.”
Done
Count me in…. Done
What is the time and address of this meeting? The Agenda link above does not work.
Brian,
The address is 25550 Commercentre Dr. Lake Forest, Ca. 92630
The City Council meeting starts @ 7:00
http:// http://www.lakeforestca.gov
Oh, snap!
Lake Forest Councilman Hit with DUI Arrest
http://lakeforest-ca.patch.com/articles/lake-forest-councilman-hit-with-dui-arrest
my husband is currently in jail on a violation for fishing at a park with me. We have been doing this since he has been on parole for the last 6 years and all of a sudden he was arrested for it. There was no children even at the park because school was still in session. He lives in contra costa county in concord, I think all counties should do what lake forest is doing. I heard an orange county judge also followed suit and lifted the ban on sex offenders in parks. It’s bad enough my husband cant live with me and has to be homeless in another county but to ban him from parks where most homeless people go to spend their days so they don’t get in trouble for loitering is just asking for him to get into trouble for something or another. I don’t understand what it is that the public is trying to do. Anyone else feel the same?
Will Councilman Herzog be there? I wonder if he’ll be as judgmental toward others who have made past mistakes now that he case this pending DUI case.
BTW – why was this story suppressed for two weeks? Thank God he was caught before he caused an accident and killed a child. Of course, if he had, he would would have received probation and required to attend a rehab program. Had he patted a boy on the rump for a good tackle, however, he’d be forced to register as a monster and run out of town, no longer free to toss a Frisbee in the parks of the city he used to represent.
@Tiffany – Trust me, A LOT OF US feel the same as you. God bless you, my wife and all the spouses, family and friends who stick with us through this nightmare. God willing this and the other ludicrous laws will be repealed.
Do you know how he was caught? Were they following him or did someone tip off the cops?
As much as I wanted to come, RML wasn’t ready to come stand at a city council meeting, especially not his own city. This is all just so much … Janice, I wish you tremendous success as I’m sure you are there right now.
There is a light … Not sure how long it will take, but I will stand in Faith that there is a Power bigger than of ourselves who is watching what is happening. You must believe that God wishes no ill harm to his children, it’s just the fight we must go through … And knowing AND believing there is a Power greater than ourselves at work is the only way to find comfort in this. Try to find some comfort in the following … 1 John 4:4 … “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
No, I’m not crazy …. I’m going through the same as you. My fiancé of just over two years has a charge from 1987, when he was 20 and the other person was the same age. And, yes, everyday we wake up afraid. I’ve lived in the same house in Orange County for the last 24 years and now find myself possibly having to sell the house because I chose to love him. We wake up every day and hope, wish, pray that things will change. In all the fear we have We are trying to hold onto to the fact that God has a plan bigger than what we can “see” … Having the fact that there is Someone watching our back through this makes it a little bit easier.
Again, no, I’m not crazy … Just holding onto our faith that He wants to help us. Be it individually or as a group, hopefully it will give us all peace … In our own way.
Peace to all …. MM
@C he has to wear that stupid gps monitor. But what really irritates me is that we have been at that park for years almost every weekend. His p.o. Was mad because my husband beat some ludacris possession of stolen property charge and was released 2 weeks prior to this last arrest so he just did it because he had nothing else to get him caught up on.