To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the Amarillo City Council:

We, the undersigned residents of Amarillo, respectfully request that the City Council adopt aChild Safety Residency Ordinance to better protect children in our community. Currently, Amarillo has no local law preventing registered sex offenders from living in close proximity to schools, daycares, playgrounds, or other areas where children gather. While state parole and probation rules provide some restrictions for offenders under supervision,
these limits end once supervision is completed. This leaves gaps in protection for families and children. Many Texas cities—including Lubbock, Plano, and Mesquite—have enacted ordinances that restrict offenders convicted of crimes against minors from residing within 1,000–2,000 feet
of schools, parks, and childcare facilities. We believe Amarillo deserves the same level of protection.

We urge the City Council to take the following actions:

1. Draft and pass a Child Safety Residency Ordinance applying to offenders convicted of crimes against children.

2. Establish a minimum 1,000-foot buffer zone around schools, daycares, playgrounds, and public parks.

3. Direct Amarillo Police Department to enforce and manage these restrictions alongside the existing sex offender registry.

Our community should not wait until tragedy strikes. This ordinance is a commonsense step toward creating a safer city for our children and peace of mind for Amarillo families.

We respectfully request that this issue be placed on the Council agenda for public discussion and action.

Signed,
Concerned Residents of Amarillo, Texas