CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO VOTERS

Cape Girardeau voters will decide April 2 on a dozen proposed changes to the city charter, including creation of an ethics commission.

A simple majority is needed to amend the city's governing document. Each of the amendments will be voted on separately.

The City Council voted Monday night to put the amendments on the ballot even though many of the councilmen personally opposed some of the provisions.

Mayor Al Spradling III said he felt it would be redundant for the city to establish an ethics commission when the state already has one.

But he said he wouldn't oppose placing the amendment on the ballot.

The seven-member commission would investigate any future allegations of ethical violation and conflicts of interest involving city officials and issue recommendations to the City Council.

Eleven of the amendments were proposed by the city's Charter Review Committee.

Besides the ethics commission, amendments would:

* Prohibit the city from raising any fee or tax above 5 percent in any single fiscal year without voter approval.

* Limit council members, including the mayor, to two consecutive terms.

* Lower the residency requirement from four years to two years for councilmen. The mayor still would have to have been a resident for four years before taking office.

* Require a detailed accounting of the enterprise funds.

* Regulate loans between city funds.

* Establish an emergency reserve fund.

* Require the city to disclose all its debt.

* Add cable television to the franchise provisions.

* Establish a preamble that calls for honest government.

* Prohibit licensing of any trade for the purpose of regulating such trade.

The Charter Review Committee had proposed a one-year residency requirement, but that was changed to two years by the council.

The 12th amendment deals with advance notification regarding lawsuits.