Colo Springs City Council Pushes Back Scheduled Vote

A vote on banning solicitation in downtown Colorado Springs get pushed back after council decides it wants to examine more options.

In council chambers Monday, council took issue with recommendations from City Attorney Chris Melcher.

Many council members wanted Old Colorado City included as a second no solicitation zone in the proposed ordinance or a possible city wide ban, but Melcher said that is not a good idea, using other cities as an example.

“They develop factual basis to support that zone. It is very important in the courts, and then they can expand the zone to other areas,” said Melcher of places like Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Despite the recommendation council members requested other proposed plans, and evidence that the police could handle any panhandling overflow that a downtown ban could cause to areas like the Westside.

“I just want to know what the commitment is and what that level of service will be to the Westside if and when we implement the panhandling ordinance,” said President Pro-Tem Jan Martin.

A first reading of the proposed ordinance was scheduled for early October, but will now be pushed back two more weeks. The first reading will occur in mid October, and the second reading and final vote will happen in November.

Several groups, like the ACLU have already told the city they will go to court if the ordinance passes.