In 3-2 Vote, City Council Declines to House Sex Offenders at Nome’s Halfway House
![The Seaside Center is owned and operated by Geo Reentry Services, which purchased and renovated the new facility for more than $4 million. Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016-05-17-untitled-001-2432px-1200x900.jpg)
After more than an hour of discussion, the Nome City Council decided not to allow sex offenders who are actively receiving treatment to stay at the Seaside halfway house.
City Council May Finally Resolve Debate: Should Sex Offenders Be Housed at Seaside?
![With new members Adam Martinson and Doug Johnson sworn into office, the 2017 City Council poses together.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/City-Council-2017-1200x851.jpg)
AMCC’s superintendent, Sandra Martinson, explained during the last City Council meeting that the plan is for sex offenders to serve most of their sentence in a jail or other facility before being transferred to Seaside for treatment. The regular City Council meeting begins Monday at 7pm in City Hall.
City Council Discussion on Sex Offenders at Seaside Continues; Final Decision Yet to Be Made
![The Council discussed housing sex offenders at Seaside during its latest regular meeting. Photo Credit: Davis Hovey, KNOM (2017)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/City-Council-1127-1200x900.jpg)
The Council was split three-to-three on an ordinance to change the Nome Code of Ordinances to allow sex offenders who are actively receiving treatment to be housed at Seaside. The tiebreaker vote came to Mayor Richard Beneville, who voted yes in favor of moving the ordinance on to the second reading phase.
City Council Will Continue Discussion on Housing Sex Offenders at Seaside During Work Session
![Nome City Council Chambers. Photo: Matthew F. Smith, KNOM file.](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-06-22-solstice-weekend-120-abandoned-building-2432px-1200x800.jpg)
During their 5:30pm work session, the Council plans to discuss updating the Nome Code of Ordinances to allow sex offenders who are actively receiving treatment to be housed at permitted correctional facilities in Nome. The Council would have to pass an ordinance, currently in the first reading phase, to make this change.