COLORADO SPRINGS — The Colorado Springs community can give their input Thursday evening on a proposal that would require bear-resistant trash containers for properties west of I-25 and establish a "bear management area."
The proposal, if passed, could impact residents financially in the "bear management area" and would require residents to store waste in a secure structure at all times if it can attract bears.
The only time the waste would not be in the secured structure would be collection days. On collection days, the containers cannot be placed outside before 5 a.m. and must be picked up by 7 p.m.
This would apply to single-family and multi-family residences as well as commercial and industrial structures.
The first violation's fine would cost $100, the second fine would cost $250 and the third violation would cost $500.
The proposed ordinance is designed to decrease the number of human-bear interactions in Colorado Springs. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 30 bears were euthanized in El Paso County due to interactions with humans.
CLICK HERE to read the proposed ordinance.
Council President and District 3 Representative Richard Skorman and District 1 Representative Don Knight, two council members who represent neighborhoods west of I-25, are holding the meeting tonight to discuss the proposal.
Tonight's meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will take place at the Westside Community Center located at 1628 W. Bijou St.
