Chandler officials are expected to consider on June 8 passing an ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from living or loitering within 300 to 1,000 feet of where children gather.

“From what I’ve heard, our police department has no authority to remove a sex offender from a playground,” City Council member Gene Giger said. “State law is broad enough that it covers a big area, but it’s harder for our police to enforce a state law than for them to have a city ordinance in hand. We can enforce that much easier. It also lets your city court become involved.”

Chandler Police Chief Ron Reeves did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

The “City Council ... finds that sex offenders who are required to register pursuant to Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure may present an extreme threat to the health, safety, and welfare of children; and ... it is the intent and objective of the City Council of the City of Chandler to exercise all legislative powers within its means to protect citizens and children,” the proposed ordinance says.

Under Section II of the ordinance:

•It is an offense for a sex offender to establish a permanent or temporary residence within 1,000 feet of real property comprising a school, child-care facility or institution, park, playground, or other places where children congregate.

•It is an offense for a sex offender to knowingly enter a child safety zone.

•It is an offense for a sex offender to knowingly loiter on a public way within 300 feet of a child safety zone.

•A sex offender shall not, on each Oct. 30-31 or any date set by the city for trickor treaters, between 4 and 11 p.m. leave an exterior porch light on or otherwise invite trick-or-treaters to solicit the premises.

The ordinance also prohibits property owners from renting real property sex offenders. It mandates that any sex offender in violation of the ordinance has committed a misdemeanor and shall be fined up to $2,000 each day of the offense.

According to state records, 15 registered sex offenders show they live inside the Chandler city limits. The Web site is records. txdps.state.tx.us.

Chandler’s Web site is chandlertx.com.