Despite changes to proposal, public has mixed reviews for sitting ordinance

It was round two Thursday night as the public weighed in on a sitting and lying ban in Colorado Springs.

It got heated again, even though changes have been made to the new proposal, specifically for people who violated the potential ban.

The proposed ordinance now reads that the maximum potential penalty for someone caught sitting or lying in restricted areas to be $500. A potential jail sentence is no longer included.

Council also delayed voting on the possible ordinance until late November, to gauge public reaction and sort through the comments submitted.

Thursday night’s meeting at Westside Community Center was for residents and workers in the west side of Colorado Springs to weigh in, and reaction is still mixed.

“I’m trying to keep them off of property and away from my customers,” one business owner said.

But others feel this proposal is simply wrong.

“I don’t want to be connected with a city that has no conscience,” another man said.

One woman brought her kids to the meeting and wanted to hear both sides.

“I want them to see the process in working with the community and working with politics,” said Kyraiin Phairchyld.

She has a unique perspective on the potential ban, because for years she was homeless.

“From the time I was 16 until I was 22. And I’m finally to the point where I can pay my own bills,” he said. “To me it’s huge to be able to just scrape by.”

She doesn’t like the current proposal and says something needs to be done to maintain public safety, but help the people living on the street.

Another resident said the ordinance doesn’t make sense.

“I don’t want an ordinance out there that we can’t enforce. Otherwise this town will become a joke,” he said.

The proposed ordinance would bar sitting, lying, leaning, reclining or kneeling on streets, sidewalks, trails and objects in the area from 7 a.m.- 10 p.m., Monday through Friday and extend to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

In downtown, the proposed ban runs west to east from I-25 to Wasatch, and from north to south from St. Vrain to Cimarron streets.

Another zone in Old Colorado City would run east to west along Colorado Avenue from 21st to 31st streets and north to south from Pikes Peak Avenue to Cucharras.

“The intention was two things, safety of all people and their feeling about people coming downtown and shopping and looking at business opportunities so businesses don’t suffer because businesses are staying away,” said Colorado Springs City Councilman Tom Strand.

Two more meetings have been scheduled after high attendance and passionate comments from the public. Times and locations will be announced next week.