City council discusses public reaction to overhaul of trash collection system

The Cape Girardeau City Council wants to move slowly implementing an overhaul of the city's trash collection program.

The city Public Works Department wants to replace the current system of two-man crews hand-dumping homeowner-purchased 35 gallon cans with one-man trucks using an automated arm to empty city-supplied trash and recycling bins. For the second council meeting in a row, the council discussed the plan during its work session.

The discussion Monday night centered on public reaction to the proposal. Council members said public reaction ranges from approval to questions about the size of the bins -- 65 gallons for trash bins, 95 gallons for recyclables -- to the speed of implementation.

"Let's take time to get it right," said Ward 5 Councilman Mark Lanzotti.

Scott Meyer, city manager, said that since the initial discussion, several questions have been explored including whether the bins could be smaller and how swiftly the city should move to buy trucks and trash bins. One reason for moving swiftly was an Aug. 15 cutoff date for ordering trucks under 2009 emission specifications, Public Works director Tim Gramling said. Trucks ordered after that date must meet stricter 2010 standards, adding $8,000 to $10,000 to the cost of each trash truck.

Because it is impossible to meet that deadline, the council wants the newly created Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board to discuss the trash issue and make recommendations. Ward 2 Councilman Charlie Herbst III said the companies seeking city business should set up a demonstration day for residents to see the trucks in action.

"If they want to sell it to us, they ought to demonstrate it," Herbst said.

Similar systems have been in use in many cities for several years. Meyer said fears about weight, manuverablity of the bins and other issues could be allayed by taking time for public discussion. "The more they talk about it and experience it, they more comfortable they are with it."

The Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board meets Aug. 18.

Tourism topic

The council also approved a request from the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce to spend $145,000 from city motel and restaurant tax receipts on promoting tourism. The one item that was discussed was the plan to spend up to $20,000 on sponsorship of the Tour of Missouri Local Organizing Committee.

Ward 6 Councilwoman Marcia Ritter said she was reluctant to spend that full amount on the bicycle race. Stage 2 of the race will finish in downtown Cape Girardeau on Sept. 8.

A decision on the final amount will be made after discussions of the CVB board, chamber president and CEO John Mehner said. But providing the full amount, he said, will have two benefits -- a much larger presence in the advertising and promotional aspects of the race and to make sure the local committee can reimburse the city for an estimated $5,000 in police overtime costs.

Several council members said they approve of spending the full amount. "We are selling ourselves short if we cannot participate fully," said Ward 4 Councilwoman Loretta Schneider.

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401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Cape Girardeau City Council decisions on agenda action items:

Public hearings

• Held a public hearing regarding the request of Jason S. Coalter for a special-use permit for purposes of operating a marketing business at 232 Good Hope St. in an R-4, multifamily residential district.
• Held public hearing regarding the property tax rates proposed to be set by the city of Cape Girardeau for the fiscal year that began July 1, and the real property tax rate proposed to be set for the Special Business District No. 2 for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Consent ordinances

• Final approval for an ordinance amending Section 2-96 of the city code relating to the Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board to place the board under the same terms and conditions as other city boards and commissions.

New ordinances

• First-reading approval of an ordinance approving a settlement agreement and a binding unilateral agreement with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and related entities relating to payment of business license taxes. Soutwestern Bell Telephone Co. will pay the city $47,519.04 in the settlement and $2,500 for the binding unilateral agreement. First reading.
• First-reading approval of an ordinance amending Section 18-5 of the city code relating to camping on public property, removing the city council from the approval process for camping permits.
• First-reading approval an ordinance appropriating up to $145,000 for operating expenditures and capital expenditures from the Convention and Tourism Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, in Cape Girardeau.
• First-reading approval of an ordinance granting a special-use permit to Jason S. Coalter for the purpose of maintaining and operating a marketing business at 232 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau.
• First-reading approval of an ordinance amending the boundaries of Wards 4 and 6 to include properties annexed by the city of Cape Girardeau.
• First-reading approval of an ordinance for the levying of the annual city revenue tax; public health tax; Special Business District No. 2 tax; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The revenue tax rate was set at 30.04 cents per $100 assessed value; the public health tax rate was set at 5.62 cents per $100 assessed value; and the Special Business District No. 2 tax rate was set at 67.08 cents per $100 assessed value.
• Approved a motion accepting into the city\\\'s water supply system the raw water supply wells and authorizing final payment to Layne-Western in the amount of $32,110.43.