PLAY VIDEO: Proposed Camping Ban

PLAY VIDEO: City Council Hears "No Camping" Proposal

This week, Colorado Springs city leaders will have the chance to decide if they want to ban camping on city land. Ultimately, it would be a push to make it illegal for people to camp, or live, in the so-called “Tent Cities.”

This issue has divided the City of Colorado Springs for months. But, soon there may be a solution. Monday, the Colorado Springs Police Chief is expected to present a new ordinance to make camping illegal on city property.

11 News talked with Andy Anderson, who says he’s been living along Fountain Creek for about four years. If the ordinance passes, Andy says he does not know where he will live. "It sounds good when you talk about it, it sounds good on paper, but in reality, no,” said Anderson.

Anderson says he has a degree in Civil Engineering and cannot work because he is disabled. Over the years, he literally built himself a home. He used mud and wood to build insulated walls. Anderson also built stairs for his girlfriend to get down to the creek bed, and he uses solar panels to store electricity to run his DVD player and charge his cell phone.

Now, CSPD is passing along the word that soon, living along the creeks, like Anderson is doing, may be illegal. "It could come down to a point where we'll have to take their sleeping bag or tent as evidence to keep them from camping,” said Officer Brett Iverson, one of three officers in the Homeless Outreach Team.

If the ordinance is passed as it is written, warnings will be given to violators. They will also be given a list of resources for housing. If they do not find a new place to live after 48-hours a ticket will be handed out. The tickets carry a hefty fine or possible jail time at the Criminal Justice Center in El Paso County.

In the proposed ordinance, the city attorney's office has said it will avoid prosecution if the person could prove they've been trying to get help from the numerous resources presented to the violator.

The Colorado Springs City Council will discuss this proposal at its informal meeting Monday. No decisions will be made until the council’s formal meeting Tuesday. Both meetings start at 1 p.m. at City Hall 107 North Nevada Ave.

To read the proposal you can click the link below.

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