Colorado Springs City Council talking waste, trash left by homeless

In July, Colorado Springs City Council passed a citywide ordinance banning homeless camps near waterways to clean up areas and prevent polluting into creeks. Even with this in effect, however, they are still finding trash, waste and other debris is still being left by waterways and still polluting the water.

Beer cans, prescription bottles, even feces, and other waste are piling up near the creeks in Colorado Springs. Some of the debris is even finding its way into the water.

On Monday, council members discussed other ways to better prevent trash and waste from being left behind. It’s something they are adamant about fixing.

City council president Richard Skorman said during the meeting, “I think we need to send the message loud and clear that we don’t want to tolerate polluting our streams not matter who it is.”

Council member David Geislinger and Marc Smith with the City Attorney’s Office brought up the possibility of making stricter littering penalties for everyone who leaves trash near waterways.

“A penalty of not more than $2500 dollars and or maximum imprisonment of 189 days for adults,” says Smith.

If approved by the council, people would be judged on a case by case basis. Geislinger says this is not a proposal aimed at singling out the homeless population, it’s for anyone who litters near the creek.

“This is for everybody and it is designed as president,” Skorman said, “to send a message to the community that we are going to be diligent in protecting our stream ways,” says Geislinger.

Other council members even brought up the idea of extending the ordinance not to just waterways, but also to the city.

The council will hold a public discussion on the matter and put it to a vote within the next few weeks.