HOUSTON -- The Houston City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that makes panhandling an illegal practice, KPRC Local 2 reported.

After weeks of debate and some delay, City Council members approved a plan that makes it illegal for minors and adults to stand in medians and on the side of Houston's streets asking passers-by for money.

The ordinance bans anyone 18 and younger from standing in the street or on the median to raise money. Minors can stand on the sidewalk or curb to hold a car wash or bake sale, but the ordinance gives police the authority to crack down on minors and adults supervising illegal fundraising.

"You used to be able to use kids. You're not going to be able to do that anymore. It's unsafe," Houston City Councilman Adrian Garcia said.

Council members said they want a zero-tolerance policy on panhandlers, loosely defined as homeless people who stand in intersections asking for money or offering to wash windows for free or for tips.

Councilman Michael Berry called the panhandling problem a public safety issue.

"With regard to minors, we were getting a lot of calls and complaints from people who were worried they were going to run over one of these kids because they are darting in between traffic and their parents obviously weren't stopping them from doing it," Berry told KPRC Local 2. "But in regard to panhandling, generally people tell us they feel unsafe when these squeegee men come up on them. They feel unsafe when they have people leaning into their car."

Berry said City Council would spend the next several weeks working to iron out the ordinance.

The mayor said he wants the city to pass a tougher anti-panhandling law.

"It does not address effectively the overall issue of panhandling in the streets," Houston Mayor Bill White said.

White said as the city continues to crack down on panhandlers, Houstonians who want to help panhandlers should donate money to organizations that help the homeless.

The ordinance will not affect people selling newspapers or Houston firefighter fundraisers.