St. Cloud to Hold Public Hearing Monday Night on Proposed Sex Offender Residency Restrictions

(KNSI) — St. Cloud residents will have a chance to let city leaders know how they feel about restricting how close dangerous sex offenders can live to schools.

The city council will hold a public hearing tonight on an ordinance preventing sex offenders from living within a certain proximity to places where kids gather. Two maps are laid out. One prevents a high-risk offender from living within 1,500 feet of schools, parks and places of worship, making virtually the entire city off limits. A second would ban level three offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, opening up many more housing opportunities.

The rule would only apply to new level three offenders moving into the city. A violation would be a misdemeanor, and fines could be levied each day they stay within an established safety zone.

In June, a working group was formed to develop an ordinance after the issue came to light when a council member learned two level three offenders had moved near an elementary school in 2022. St. Cloud currently has six level three offenders within its borders. Level three offenders are the most likely to re-offend.

Ninety-two cities in Minnesota have some restrictions on where sex offenders can live. The meeting gets underway at 6:00 on Monday night.

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