City Council proposes ordinance to mandate bear-resistance trash cans

The City of Colorado Springs proposed an ordinance that would require residents in bear-frequented areas to use bear resistant trash cans, the City announced Monday.

City Council Members Richard Skorman and Don Knight invited the public to attend two community meetings to discuss a proposed ordinance which would require bear resistant trash cans west of I-25 and establish a “Bear Management Area Map.”

If the ordinance is passed by City Council, there could be a financial impact to residents and businesses within the Bear Management Area.

If trash cans are already kept in a secured area, the ordinance proposes a quasi curfew for the receptacle. The trash receptacle would have to be placed out for garbage collection no earlier than 5 a.m. on the day of collection, and returned to its secured area no later than 7 p.m. the same day.

This proposal was discussed at the July 22 City Council Work Session. You can view the video from that meeting and review the documents presented to Council here.

There will be two public meetings with Council members, Richard Skorman (District 3) and Don Knight (District 1), who both represent the entire area of Colorado Springs west of I-25. Representatives from the City of Colorado Springs Neighborhood Services, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region will also be available to answer questions.

Public Meeting Details:
August 22, 6-7:30 pm — Fire Station 18, 6830 Hadler View
August 29, 6-7:30 pm — Westside Community Center, 1628 W Bijou Street