City council votes to allow downtown sidewalk cafes

Sidewalk cafes will soon be allowed on several downtown streets, Cape Girardeau's city council decided Monday.

The council, apart from Councilman Mark Lanzotti, who was absent during the regular meeting, unanimously voted in favor of an ordinance that will create a permit program for sidewalk cafes. The ordinance was first brought up for discussion by the council last month as the city looked for a way to feature a still-new promenade sidewalk that was built as part of the Broadway Corridor Improvement Project completed last fall.

The new ordinance sets out rules on sidewalk cafes that would be permitted only on Broadway between Water and Pacific streets, on Water Street between Broadway and Independence Street, and on Main and Spanish streets between Broadway and Merriwether Street.

Rules set out in the permit program include restricting sidewalk dining to areas in front of where a restaurant is, assuring pedestrian traffic is not blocked, requiring good-quality and well-maintained furniture and setting allowable hours of operation and requirements related to safety and liquor licenses. Both food and liquor can be served at the cafes under the ordinance. The ordinance will also allow the city to suspend permits when special event permits are issued and suspend or revoke permits if the city determines ordinance criteria or health regulations are not met.

City manager Scott Meyer said the permit program will become active in 10 days and he expects most applicants will seek a permit when renewing their business licenses in January.

The council also passed an ordinance that will set a new rate for flat-fee business licenses at $40 per year.

A set of proposed ordinances covering nuisances was also planned to be addressed by the council during planning by the city several weeks ago, but did not make the agenda Monday. Meyer said the ordinances will be discussed at the next city council meeting in November since the city of Cape Girardeau still needs to review some recently received information from another city relevant to some potential changes.

Other business

Also included in the regular session Monday was the announcement of an anticipated opening of a new dog park in the city. Meyer said the dog park, which will be at Kiwanis Park, is expected to open in early November. No exact date was given.

The dog park was included in a list of casino revenue-funded projects approved by the city council last spring. The park is estimated to cost $25,000 to construct and will include a one-acre fenced-in area with park benches, separate water fountains for dogs and humans, dog play features, dog waste containers and trees for shade. A separate section will be designated for small dogs.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO