Cape council to hold hearing on improvement district today

Approval of a petition for a community improvement district, extension of a sales tax and review of nomination petitions for the vacant Ward 3 seat will be considered at the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting today.

Before the council begins voting, a public hearing will be held to gather input on a petition for the creation of the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District. Supporters of the proposal filed a petition with the city clerk in December requesting the council form the district in the areas of Broadway and Water, Main and Spanish streets and portions of adjoining streets. Scheduling a public hearing also was part of the petition.

Members of the downtown CID steering committee have said the CID would keep the district safe and clean, by providing trash and litter pickup and patrolling security. These services would be funded through a $0.6708 property tax and a half-cent sales tax, imposed within the boundaries of the CID.

The council will have its first reading and decide whether to approve the petition immediately after the public hearing. The ordinance would have to be approved in a second and third reading before it would be passed.

The downtown CID will be a political body independent of city government and will have its own board of directors. Should the council adopt the ordinance establishing the CID, that board will call for residents of the district who are registered voters to vote on implementing the property and sales tax by mail-in ballot. The taxes must be approved by at least 50 percent of the ballots cast to pass.

The next ordinance to be considered by the council would place the question of whether to extend a 1/8-cent portion of the fire tax on the August ballot. City manager Scott Meyer said funds from the tax are used to purchase police cars and equipment for the police and fire departments, and for facility upgrades.

"It's not for additional people or anything like that. It's just to keep the facilities and the equipment they need to serve our city," he said of the fire tax.

An ordinance allowing the mayor to execute a special warranty deed to Crisp Realty Co. for property in the business park also will be considered at tonight's meeting. It was announced Friday that Pepsi MidAmerica -- a company founded by Harry Crisp Sr. and led by three generations of the Crisp family -- will be the first tenant at Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park at Interstate 55 and LaSalle Avenue. The move is expected to bring 74 jobs to the area when a $3.1 million customer service center opens, possibly by next summer.

Although there's no guarantee a final decision will be made, the council will review and discuss submitted nomination petitions for the vacant Ward 3 seat. Three people, including two men who plan to run for the elected position later this year, have expressed interest in the temporary position. The position became available after the March 31 resignation of Trent Summers, and the council has 60 days from that date to name a temporary replacement.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.