City inches toward ballot on dining tax

Editor's note: The following story has been edited to correct the spelling of Frank Nickell's last name, and to clarify comments from a councilman.

The Cape Girardeau City Council made progress on the future of a restaurant tax, leaning toward placing it on a ballot whether to fund the building of a police station.

The council also discussed revisions of nuisance ordinances and addressed concerns at a lengthy public hearing about a possible cellphone tower on William Street.

On the restaurant tax, Mayor Harry Rediger and councilmen Mark Lanzotti and John Voss again voiced their favor of asking voters to renew a 1 percent restaurant tax on the November ballot to fund the construction of a new police station or public safety building.

Lanzotti said a new police station ranked No. 1 on the city's list of Capital Improvements Projects.

Councilwoman Loretta Schneider at a meeting last month said she did not favor changing the use of the tax's funds from tourism to public safety, but said Monday she now agrees the city has a "unique opportunity" to change the tax.

"I agree that our greatest need is a police station," she said. "I have always been in favor of supporting the parks and recreation department, but now that we have the park tax, we have other funding for parks projects. We will have to change the ordinance, but by changing the restaurant tax we could fulfill a need."

Councilman Trent Summers still disagreed with changing the revenue's use away from tourism and said there were other ways to fund a new police station, including a capital improvement tax or expansion of the telephone tax. Rediger and Schneider stated they would not be in favor of any new or raised taxes.

To get the issue on the ballot by November, the council must prepare an ordinance by its next meeting and approve it by its first meeting in August. City manager Scott Meyer said the paperwork for ordinances regarding the restaurant and lodging tax would be prepared and brought before the council at its next meeting July 15.

The council was much more unified in discussing possible revisions to the city's nuisance ordinances. The proposed changes would create stricter rules for open, outdoor storage, define "chronic nuisances" and outline cleanup procedures and increase fines for violations to $125.

Some suggestions by the council were adding a littering ordinance and creating a public input period to allow residents to give concerns and suggestions before final changes are made. Lanzotti also proposed the city "get creative" about the way it handles violations.

"A lot of these incidences occur in areas of limited resources," he said. Lanzotti suggested alternatives to fines, such as community service, for violations.

Meyer said the revisions needed "some vetting out" and agreed to work in the council's suggestions to the altered ordinances.

During the regular session, a public hearing considered AT&T's request for a special use permit to build and operate a telecommunication tower at 418 William St.

Marsha Haskell, the company's regional director, led the hearing, saying it was "critical" that investments in wireless infrastructure in Cape Girardeau continue.

"This would upgrade facilities to 4G LTE, the fastest technology today," she said. "And there's no question better coverage is needed near the casino and downtown areas."

She said AT&T tried to keep in mind the "impact of the aesthetics" to nearby neighborhoods and will build a tower that looks like a flagpole, complete with a Missouri state flag.

Among the residents who stood up next to voice concerns about the tower was local historian Frank Nickell. He said the location of the possible tower would "compromise the city's most historic districts."

"If one is built, more will certainly follow," he said. "How will you say no to other providers, like Verizon or T-Mobile, when they ask to put up a tower?"

The council agreed to delay voting on the request for until its meeting Aug. 5 to allow AT&T and residents time to meet and discuss any issues surrounding the tower.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Council Action

BILL NO. 13-86, an ordinance approving the record play of Joan Gohn Subdivision. Second and third readings. Approved 7-0

BILL NO. 13-87, an ordinance approving the record plat of Cape West 14th subdivision. Second and third readings. Approved 7-0

BILL NO. 13-90, a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Nip Kelley Equipment Company, Inc. for the replacement of the clearwell at Water Treatment Plant No. 2 in the city of Cape Girardeau. Reading and passage. Approved 7-0

BILL NO. 13-91, a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Tom Beussink Excavating, Inc. for the extension of the LaSalle Water Main, in the city of Cape Girardeau. Reading and passage. Approved 7-0

BILL NO. 13-89, an ordinance granting a special use permit to AT&T Mobility and 418 William, LLC, for purposes of constructing and operating a telecommunication tower at 418 William Street in the city and county of Cape Girardeau. First reading. Delayed to be voted on Aug. 5.

BILL NO. 13-92, an ordinance appropriating funds for operating expenditures, capital expenditures and transfers for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 in the city of Cape Girardeau. First reading. Approved 7-0