Several City Council members asked Monday for a plan to address crime on Colorado Springs’ west side before they approve a zone to fight panhandling just downtown.City Attorney Chris Melcher gave the council an update on the proposed no-solicitation zone downtown, saying Acacia Park was now included and that his office was researching a permitting process for street musicians and a way to allow charitable solicitation from groups such as the Girl Scouts and the Salvation Army.“When we were asked about multiple zones, particularly (on the) west side, the concern — the very strong concern — is that if we took that approach in our first attempt, we would lose in court, that that would be struck down,” Melcher told council members.“I would offer the advice to you that we should focus on the downtown no-solicitation zone,” he said, adding the city was working on ways to deal with crime on the west side.“They’re dealing with real enforcement issues for laws that are currently on the books, so if we can give them commitment for real enforcement, that’s going to go a long way and be, I think, the most helpful first step,” he said.But council members said they wanted a specific plan, not just a commitment.“You talk about a commitment of enforcement and sustained effort over there. I’m going to need a little bit more detail because, if I’m convinced that we’re making that commitment for the west side, then I’m much more likely to support the (proposed no-solicitation zone) just for downtown,” council President Pro Tem Jan Martin said.Councilman Val Snider echoed a similar sentiment.“I just keep hearing and hearing enforcement, enforcement, enforcement,” Snider said.Council members, as well as west side residents, worry that panhandlers will move to other parts of town if the no-solicitation zone downtown is approved.“It’s on my mind, too,” police Chief Pete Carey said during Monday’s council meeting.Carey said “part of the implementation plan will have to include the west side.” He said the preliminary 2013 budget includes more money for the Police Department to pay for community service officers with specialized training in code enforcement to keep an eye on the west side. He said department is looking into a police storefront on the west side, possibly in the Red Rocks Shopping Center.However, Carey said statistics show there’s more crime downtown than in the west side.“What’s clear in this information is that the downtown area has a lot more crimes, especially violent crimes and crimes against persons,” he said.Councilman Tim Leigh said the problems on the west side seem to be growing. He said he was visiting one of his children recently and that it looked like a bear had rummaged through the garbage in the alley. He said it wasn’t a bear but people that did the rummaging and that it’s happened on multiple occasions.“I’m very concerned about the west side and want to speak very loudly that we do get a commitment to both patrol and enforcement,” he said.In addition to a plan to fight crime on the west side, the council asked Melcher to bring back on Oct. 9 different options to fight panhandling citywide. The council will hold a public hearing that day, but no action will be taken. The proposed downtown no-solicitation zone could be up for first reading, at the earliest, on Oct. 23.—Contact Daniel Chacón: 476-1623Twitter @danieljchaconFacebook Daniel Chacon

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