West St. Paul loosened its rules on where sex offenders can live Monday night, after struggling to strike a balance between residents' concerns and possible legal repercussions of its highly restrictive policy.
City officials approved the changes unanimously, but they expressed their reservations during the meeting.
"I'm not thrilled about changing it," Mayor Jenny Halverson said.
Under the new ordinance, the city will restrict only where Level 2 and 3 sex offenders who have abused children can live, while also allowing offenders to live near group homes. Level 3 offenders are considered most likely to reoffend.
The council's decision was made after a federal judge this winter allowed a low-risk sex offender to stay in West St. Paul while his lawsuit, which charged the city with undue restrictions, went through court. The judge noted that the suit had merit, signaling that the city could lose.
That caused city officials to reconsider aspects of their ordinance, one of the strictest in Minnesota. It barred all sex offenders — Levels 1, 2 and 3 — from living near group homes, as well as schools, churches, day-care centers and other places where children gather.
Advocates for housing sex offenders said such restrictions practically rendered offenders homeless.
"I could help a whole lot more and have a lot more houses [without restrictions]," said Gabrielle Gipson, who rents properties to offenders.