City of Colorado Springs Logo
File #: 15-00524    Version: Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Mayor's Office
File created: 8/12/2015 In control: City Council
On agenda: 2/9/2016 Final action: 2/9/2016
Title: Ordinance No. 16-13 creating a New Section 112 (Sitting or Lying Down in Commercial Districts) of Article 2 (Offenses Affecting Public Safety) of Chapter 9 (Public Offenses) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as Amended, Pertaining to Pedestrian Access to the Public Sidewalks and Rights-of-Way in Commercial Districts
Attachments: 1. 020916 Pedestrian Access Act 2nd Reading slides, 2. 012616 Pedestrian Access Act Ordinance, 3. 012616 Pedestrian Access Act 1st Reading slides, 4. 011116 Pedestrian Access - Downtown Partnership, 5. Cox Declaration, 6. Ex. A to Cox Decl. - City of Col Spgs Parks System Master Plan, 7. Ex. B to Cox Decl. - Clark, Charlotte and David Uzell- The Affordance of the Home Neighbourhood, 8. Ex. C to Cox Decl. - Day, Frank and Michael Kleiman-Fear of Crime in the US, 9. Ex. D to Cox Decl. - Downtown Partnership Online Survey, 10. Ex. E to Cox Decl. - Sampson, Robert and Stephen Raudenbush-Systematic Social Observation of Public Spaces, 11. Ex. G to Cox Decl. - ULI Report, 12. Ex. F to Cox Decl. - U.S. Depart Justice-Crime Victimization Survey, 13. Signed Ordinance_16-13.pdf


Title
Ordinance No. 16-13 creating a New Section 112 (Sitting or Lying Down in Commercial Districts) of Article 2 (Offenses Affecting Public Safety) of Chapter 9 (Public Offenses) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as Amended, Pertaining to Pedestrian Access to the Public Sidewalks and Rights-of-Way in Commercial Districts

Body
From:
Keith King, City Council Member, District 3
Tom Strand, City Council Member At Large

Summary:
The proposed ordinance would help ensure that the public rights of way in the downtown and Old Colorado City commercial areas are accessible to pedestrians by prohibiting sitting, kneeling, reclining or lying upon the surface of sidewalks, trails or other public rights-of-way and providing penalties for the violation thereof.

Previous Council Action:
An earlier version of an ordinance on this subject was introduced at Council's work session of August 24, 2015.

Background:
Councilmembers Keith King and Tom Strand, at the request of Mayor Suthers, have proposed a new City ordinance intended to maintain public rights-of-way for their designed purpose as thoroughfares for pedestrian, recreational and vehicular travel. The ordinance would prohibit people from sitting, lying, reclining or kneeling on streets, sidewalks, trails, and other structures in the right-of-way not intended for sitting, during certain times of the day and in defined areas of downtown Colorado Springs and Old Colorado City.

Business owners, residents and visitors have complained about a growing number of people sitting and lying in the public right-of-way. The behavior impedes pathways, creating a safety hazard. In addition, use of the public right-of-way in a manner that is inconsistent with its intended purpose creates a perception of an unsafe environment that curtails visitation in these commercial districts. The proposed ordinance would promote public safety and economic vitality by ensuring that visitors have saf...

Click here for full text



The City of Colorado Springs is committed to making its websites accessible to the widest possible audience. We are constantly working to increase the accessibility and usability of our online technology. We strive to maintain conformance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 as well as U.S. Federal Government Section 508 Guidelines. The City of Colorado Springs will be evaluating this site on a regular basis, and it will continue to evolve and improve over time as new technologies emerge. Documents created by third parties may not meet all accessibility criteria. If you experience difficulty accessing the information contained within this webpage, please contact the Office of Accessibility at 719-385-5169.