MADISON, Wis. -- A Madison city leader said he's developing a plan to help combat rising crime -- a loitering ordinance.

Paul Skidmore, who represents the city's ninth district on the Common Council, said a similar ordinance that expired in 2002 worked to prevent drug deals and other crimes. He said he thinks it's time to reconsider reinstating it.

"I've always supported this as a tool, not as a magic bullet, but as a tool," Skidmore said. "And have always looked for an opportunity to bring it back; this is an opportunity."

Skidmore said police officers lack the tools -- like a loitering ordinance -- that allow them to approach people standing around and who may be up to no good. The ordinance would allow officers to engage people who are simply hanging out and find out if there;s more going on than might immediately meet the eye.

"This is not just going to work on everywhere in the city. This is only on neighborhoods who endorse it, in areas that need it. You know, where the neighborhood wants it," Skidmore said.

But the idea of not applying the ordinance citywide didn't sit well many people along Allied Drive.

"Bring a loitering law that's going to be across the board, everyone has to abide by it, and enforce it the right way,” said Alice Howard, a community leader and past-president of the Allied Dunn Marsh Neighborhood Association.

"When they had the loitering law before, they misused it. They stopped anybody, anywhere, on this street. OK, if you're gonna do that, do you do it other neighborhoods? No, you don't. If you did it in other neighborhoods, I wouldn't complain," said Howard.

Skidmore said that he doesn't have an official proposal, and is working on ideas and gaining support of other council members. He said he welcomes community input and plans to propose his idea in July.