[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Ogdensburg 6-25-2007 by Ord. No. 5-2007. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The title of this chapter shall be the "Child Protection Act."
A. 
It is the intent of this chapter to serve the City's compelling interest to promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City by creating areas around locations where children regularly congregate in concentrated numbers wherein certain sexual offenders are prohibited from establishing temporary or permanent residence.
B. 
The City Council of the City of Ogdensburg finds that one of the highest priorities of local government is the protection of the health and safety of its citizens. This is especially true for children and other vulnerable members of society. The City Council further finds that Level 3 convicted sex offenders pose a significant continuing risk to society.
C. 
The City Council finds that the protection of the victims and potential victims of sexual offenders in Ogdensburg is a matter of unique local concern not fully and adequately addressed by state law. The City Council finds that the disclosures required and the limitations contained herein will protect the citizens of Ogdensburg and in protecting children who may come into proximity with a sex offender in the scope of employment with the City.
D. 
The City Council finds that the City of Ogdensburg agrees with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services risk assessment of sex offenders and has made no determination that conflicts with restrictions placed on any particular sex offender or level of sex offenders. Rather, the Council finds that this chapter is remedial in nature and designed to fill certain gaps in state law as well as to provide protections for residents of the City who receive certain services from the City. The Council further finds this chapter to be the most narrowly tailored means of fulfilling its compelling interest in the safety of its citizens. Finally, the Council does not intend for any person to use the information required by this chapter to harm or injure any registrant under the law.
For purposes of this chapter, the following shall apply unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
BACKGROUND SEARCH
A search of the records of the Police Department of the City of Ogdensburg and a search to determine if a person is listed or registered on the New York State Sex Offender Registry.
CHILD OR CHILDREN
Persons under 18 years of age. The singular and plural shall include one another. If the applicable statute defining a crime against a child refers to a child younger than 18, the younger age shall control.
CONTRACTOR
An individual, a business enterprise, including a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, a not-for-profit corporation, or any other party to a City contract, or a bidder in conjunction with the award of a City contract or a proposed party to a City contract.
DCJS
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
EMPLOYER
Any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative or organized group of persons paying wages or any form of compensation to any person for services that directly or indirectly benefit the individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative or organized group of persons.
HIS
His or hers.
MINOR
Any person under the age of 18 years.
OPD
The Ogdensburg Police Department.
PARK, PLAYGROUND OR RECREATIONAL AREA
The grounds and buildings thereon, waters therein and any other property necessary for the operation thereof and constituting a part thereof, which is now or may hereafter be maintained, operated and controlled for public park, playground or recreational purposes. "Park, playground or recreational area" shall include the following locations: Greenbelt as the same is defined in § 149-2 of the Municipal Code of the City of Ogdensburg, Hamilton Street Park, Grove Street Park, Father Martin Park, New York Avenue Park, Lockwood Arena and the associated real property, Maple City Trail, Park Street Field, Montroy Park and Jefferson Avenue Ball park.
REGISTRANT
Any person required to register under Article 6-C of the Corrections Law of the State of New York (Sex Offender Registration Act).
REGISTRATION YEAR
One year from the date of first registration under this chapter.
RESIDENCE
Any building, structure, or portion thereof which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied, as place of one's domicile, home, or sleeping place of human beings.
RESIDENT
Any person who lives in the City of Ogdensburg in any apartment or home, has a usual place of abode in the City, is domiciled in the City or temporarily present in the City and staying at a homeless shelter or an extended-stay establishment.
SCHOOL
A licensed or accredited public, charter, private or religious school that offers instruction to students in kindergarten through any grade up to Grade 12.
SCHOOL GROUND
Any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public or private elementary, parochial, intermediate, junior high, vocational, or high school.
SEX OFFENDER
Shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in § 168-a, Subdivision 1, of the Corrections Law of the State of New York.
TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
Any hotel, motel, rooming house, inn, rooming unit, bed- and-breakfast, residence inn, country inn, motor court, R-V park or motor lodge that lets or provides any space for occupancy by any person. Any place of business that provides services or utilities to motor homes, recreational vehicles, and trucks with campers or any other motor vehicle in which an individual does or may sleep overnight is a temporary residence under this chapter.
A. 
After the effective date of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any Level 3 sex offender to establish a permanent or temporary residence within 200 feet of any school ground, park, playground or recreational area.
B. 
For purposes of determining the minimum distance separation, the distance shall be measured by following a straight line from the outer property line of the permanent residence or temporary residence to the nearest outer property line of a school ground, park, playground or other recreational area.
After the effective date of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any Level 3 sex offender to enter, stop, sit, or stand within any park, playground or recreational area.
A. 
City employees. Ogdensburg City will conduct a background search of any and all employees that may be alone with a child within the scope of the performance of their duties. No person convicted of a sex offense will be allowed to work alone with or supervise any child.
B. 
City contractors. All persons or entities that enter into contracts with the City and are the employer of any person that may be alone with a child within the scope of the performance of the contract shall conduct a background search of any and all such employees and compare the background search to any applicable registration information available on the state's website and/or the sex offender hotline maintained by the State of New York. No person convicted of a sex offense will work alone with or supervise any child. Any failure by the contractor to comply is a material breach of the contract and entitles the City to terminate the contract. This subsection includes, but is not limited to, 501(c)(3) entities and charitable entities. Any person or entity to which this subsection applies shall notify OPD immediately if that person or entity has or obtains any information about any registrant that does not conform with the information the registrant provided to the DCJS.
A person residing within 200 feet of a school ground, city park or city playground does not commit a violation of this section if any of the following apply:
A. 
The person established the permanent residence prior to the effective date of this chapter.
B. 
The person was a minor when he/she committed the offense and was not convicted as an adult.
C. 
The person is a minor.
D. 
The school ground, city park or city playground within 200 feet of the person's permanent residence was opened after the person established permanent residence.
E. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to persons incarcerated in any facilities owned, maintained and/or operated by Ogdensburg City, St. Lawrence County, or New York State.
Nothing in this chapter creates or shall create a cause of action against the City of Ogdensburg not already authorized under existing law. Without limitation, the City is not liable to any person harmed who claims that conditions under this chapter may have prevented the harm.
This chapter shall be enforced by the OPD. The Chief of Police shall cause a copy of this chapter and the Prohibited Area Map to be provided to each registered sex offender who has registered under Megan's Law and who is residing within the City limits.
Each violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of $250 and/or 10 days in jail. The City shall also be entitled to injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this chapter.