Cape council to approve 2015-2020 project list

Several of the votes taken tonight by the Cape Girardeau City Council will approve contracts and agreements for projects around the city.

The council discussed and held a public hearing on the 2015-2020 Capital Improvements Program at the March 2 council meeting, and final approval will be given tonight.

City charter mandates the list be formalized and adopted by the council before April 1. The program serves as a planning tool for identifying and evaluating projects in the areas of transportation, environment and capital assets that need renovations, repairs or construction.

The program includes funded and contingent, or unfunded, projects. This year's program list features $93.7 million in funded projects and $159.8 million in contingent projects.

The next item to be considered by the council would authorize an engineering services agreement with Lochmueller Group of Indiana for the downtown parking study.

In January, council members approved the programming agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

The study, which focuses on the area encompassed by the Downtown Community Improvement District, will largely be paid for by a Traffic Engineering Assistance Program Grant.

The community improvement district includes the eastern portion of Broadway Street, as well as Water, Main and Spanish streets.

The grant awarded to the city to study downtown parking needs equals $8,000.

The Industrial Development Authority of Cape Girardeau County is contributing $4,000, and the Special Business District is offering $3,000.

The cost of the parking study is not to exceed $15,000.

Another project requiring council approval to continue is construction of the first phase of Cape Splash Aquatic Center additions and improvements. The resolution under consideration would authorize the city manager to execute a contract with KCI Construction Company Inc. of St. Louis.

Phase 1 improvements include the addition of a new five-lane drop speed slide and mat racer. The additions are designed to appeal to some of the older children visiting the water park.

City parks and recreation staff have expressed hope the project could be completed before the park opens in May.

Proposed construction costs for phase 1 are estimated at $1,266,022. Revenue from the city's 1 percent restaurant tax will help pay for the project.

Other business

The final item to be considered by the council would appropriate funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to recommendations from a pay and benefits study conducted by CBIZ Human Capital Services.

The study would compare and align salary and benefits for employees in the city of Cape Girardeau to those of employees in similar markets.

The ordinance awaiting council approval appropriates $112,108 for the initial year's cost of implementing recommendations from the study.

Adequate additional revenue or unencumbered fund balances are available to fund the costs, according to city reports, and staff have identified methods to reduce recurring expenses to offset recurring costs caused by the recommendations.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641