Attachment

SAFETY ADVISORY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AGENDA September 25, 2007 - 6:00 P.M. - Council Chambers - City Hall - City of Dover Public comments are welcomed on any item and will be permitted at appropriate times. When possible, please notify the City Clerk (736-7008 or e-m ail at Tm cdowell@dover.de.us) should you wish to be recognized. AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS 1. Briefing on DelDOT Projects - Gary Laing A. DelDOT Mega Traffic Study (SR1/Route 8 and East Dover Housing Development Projects) B. West Dover Connector C. Traffic Signal at Greenway Lane and Kenton Road D. South Governors Avenue Improvements E. Signalization Project F. Wyoming Mill Road Project 2. Briefing on MPO Projects - Juanita Wieczoreck 3. Kent County Grant Funding Money 4. Update and Assignment of Recommendations of Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee /tm S:\ClerksOffice\Agendas&Minutes\Committee-Agendas\2007\09-25-2007 SA&T Revised.wpd THE AGENDA ITEMS AS LISTED MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.

ACTION FORM PROCEEDING: Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee DEPARTMENT OF ORIGIN: City Clerk’s Office on behalf of Councilman Slavin PREPARED BY: Traci A. McDowell, City Clerk DATE SUBMITTED: 09-11-2007 SUBJECT: Update and Assignment of Recommendations of Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee RELATED PROJECT: N/A APPROVALS: N/A EXHIBITS: Recommendations of Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee as presented to City Council on April 23, 2007 EXPENDITURE REQUIRED: $ N/A AMOUNT BUDGETED: $ N/A FUNDING SOURCE (Dept./Page in CIP & Budget): N/A TIMETABLE: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Assign Recommendations to Appropriate Departments for Action/Implementation BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS During the Regular City Council Meeting of April 23, 2007, the Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee presented its Final Report and Recommendations. At the request of Councilman Slavin, the committee’s chair, the recommendations are being reviewed by the Safety Advisory and Transportation Committee for referral to the appropriate departments for implementation. S:\ClerksOffice\PACKETS\2007\Committee\SA&T\09-25-2007 SA&T\3-Sex Offender Leg Rev Recommendations.wpd

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Recommendations Presented to City Council on April 23, 2007 EDUCATION 1. Public Forum. A public forum should be held at the conclusion of the Committee’s work to review the recommendations. 2. 5-in-5 Communication Strategy. The Committee recommends that a “5 in 5” communication strategy be adopted, utilizing five different methods of communicating important issues relative to the issues of sex offenders in our community. Such strategies might include the following: a. Printed copies of the report will be available, as well as posted on the City’s web site. b. The City of Dover utility bill “stuffers” should be utilized to promulgate important information to citizens on how to become more knowledgeable about the issue of sex offenders in our community. c. An email subscription service should be offered by the City and used to communicate information about this issue to citizens. d. The Committee will ask Comcast to sponsor a short message about the Committee’s work, as well as to broadcast the “Safe Side” video. e. The Committee will ask school districts to design and use a special “red envelope” approach to sending information home to parents when notification is warranted. 3. Police Seminars. The Dover Police Department should hold bi-annual public seminars on the issue of sex offenders, to include enforcement and notification. 4. Curriculum. The Delaware Department of Education is encouraged to develop curriculum which addresses the issue of sex offenders, and is also encouraged to require an annual awareness day on this issue in all schools in Delaware. 5. Establish a Go Ahead and Ask Program. The development of a “Go Ahead and Ask” program is recommended for all consumers who do business with contractors for services rendered in their home. The program encourages the consumer to ask two questions: a. “Have you checked the criminal background of all employees who will do work in my home? b. “Can I have their names in order to run my own check against the sex offenders registry?” 6. Safe Side Videos. The Dover Public Library is encouraged to buy multiple copies of the “Safe Side” video and make it available for borrowing by all library card holders. In addition, it is recommended that Comcast be asked to broadcast these videos as a benefit to the community.

SEX OFFENDER LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Recommendations Presented to City Council on April 23, 2007 PAGE 2 ENFORCEMENT 7. Sex Crimes Unit. It is recommended that a Sex Crimes Unit be established in the Dover Police Department. This would require adding two Detectives to the Dover Police Department and implementing the unit within the Criminal Investigations section. 8. Homeless Ordinance. The City of Dover is encouraged to adopt a “homeless sex offender” ordinance. This ordinance would require that any sex offender registering him- or herself as homeless be required to confirm that registration on a frequent basis at the Dover Police Department. 9. Homeless registration loophole. It is recommended that the General Assembly address the current loophole in state law which allows sex offenders to register as homeless. 10. Longer probation for Tier III. It is recommended that the State of Delaware mandate that all Tier III sex offenders be placed on life time probation, or at least a significantly longer probation period. 11. Failure to re-register. It is recommended that the State of Delaware implement penalties for failure to re-register as a sex offender be stiffened from the current Class G Felony status. 12. Driver’s License and Registration. It is recommended that the driver’s license and vehicle registration for all sex offenders be noted on the documentation issued by the State of Delaware. NOTIFICATION 13. Sex Offender Registry. It is recommended that the State of Delaware include the ability to search the Sex Offender Registry by place of employment, school, and school district. 14. Clearer Pictures for Schools. It is recommended that clear pictures of sex offenders be sent to schools by the Dover Police Department for placement in their notification binders. In order to improve quality of image, it is suggested that e-mail be utilized. 15. Notify our Parks. It is recommended that the Dover Police Department notify all city parks and the City Library for all Tier III and Tier II sex offenders in the City. 16. Notify Bus Drivers. It is recommended that the Dover Police Department develop a strategy to educate school bus drivers on the issue of sex offenders in the community. 17. Private Schools. It is recommended that all private schools in the City of Dover maintain a sex offender notification binder at their front desks, similar to those maintained by public schools. It is also recommended that the State of Delaware require private schools to maintain such notification binders. 18. Youth Activities Volunteers. It is recommended that all providers of activities for youth in Dover conduct background checks on employees and volunteers. It is also recommended that all educators conduct background checks. S:\ClerksOffice\Committees Commissions & Boards\Sex Offender Legislation Review Committee\09-25-2007 SA&T SOLR Recommendations.wpd