CITY TO DECIDE ON SALES TAX

The Cape Girardeau City Council will decide tonight whether to extend the current sales tax funding a Transportation Trust Fund program for street repairs.

The council meets Monday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 401 Independence.

What exact improvements will be funded by the half-cent sales tax extension are not definite yet. The Planning and Zoning Commission will review the results of suggestions from public meetings May 10. The commission will then make another report to the council no later than June 5, said City Planner Kent Bratton.

The council must act in May to place the sales-tax measure on an August ballot. If the ordinance receives approval on first reading tonight, it must be read a second and third time before passage. Once the ordinance passes, it takes effect 10 days later.

For several months now the Planning and Zoning Commission and city engineering department have been studying the possibility of extending the current Transportation Trust Fund tax. The half-cent sales tax was approved by voters in 1995 and is set to expire at the year's end.

Vision 2000 hosted several public meetings for residents to come and talk about a possible tax extension and make suggestions regarding what projects were important or which streets needed improvements.

About 20 people attended those meetings, held during a two-week period in April. The meetings outlined the current program, explained the extension and listed proposed projects.

Currently, the proposal includes extending the tax for five years and includes both overall street repairs and major projects. There are 13 projects listed -- five general categories of street paving; street, curb and gutter repairs; sidewalk repairs; new sidewalk construction; and installing street lights and upgrading existing lights; and eight specific projects.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Study session at 5 p.m.

Public hearings

* Public hearing regarding request of Phillips Development Corp. and Cherry Wood Heights One Limited Partnership to rezone a portion of 801 Good Hope St. from R-4, multiple family residential district, and C-1, local commercial district, to R-4, multiple family residential and for a special-use permit for a community unit plan for apartments.

* Public hearing regarding the request of Larry and Betty McCulley to rezone a lot in the 400 block of Olive Street from R-2, single family residential district, to R-4, multiple family residential district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of Second Baptist Church to rezone the northwest corner of Elm Street and Beaudean Lane from R-2, single family residential district, to R-4, multiple family residential district.

* Public hearing regarding request of Lonnie and Shirley Moss for a special-use permit for repair of air wrenches, air compressors, pressure washers, and automotive equipment and for retail sales of parts and equipment at 155 S. Park Avenue in an R-3, two-family residential district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of SEMO University Foundation and Cape Girardeau County for a special-use permit for a juvenile justice center on a tract south of Gerhardt Street in Foundation Park in an M-1, light industrial district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of Keith Deimund Trust and Lynwood Baptist Church for a special-use permit to erect a public information sign for Lynwood Baptist Church on the southwest corner of Cape La Croix Road and Lynwood Hills Drive in a C-1, local commercial district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church for a special-use permit for a children's day-care center at 800 S. Sprigg St., in an R-3, two family residential district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of Robert A. Drury for a special-use permit for a 195-foot cellular communication tower and equipment pad in the 300 block of South Silver Springs Road in a C-2, general business district.

* Public hearing regarding the request of Michael A. and Bonnie C. Smith and Summit Enterprises LLC for a special-use permit for community unit plans for apartments in the 2700 block of Lynwood Hills Drive in an R-4, multiple family residential district.

Consent ordinances (Second and third readings)

* Ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the payment of the work of East Rodney Street from National Guard Armory to Hawthorne Road.

* Ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the payment of the work of William Street from Sprigg Street easterly to Main Street.

* Ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvement, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the payment of the work of Independence Street from Pacific Street to Sprigg Street.

* Ordinance granting a special-use permit to Geneva Nadine Heuer and Rhodes Properties LC for constructing, maintaining and operating mini-warehouse storage buildings at 2301 Bloomfield Road.

* Ordinance vacating city's interest in a portion of utility easement in DKR Fifth Subdivision.

* Ordinance approving the record plat of DKR 6th Subdivision.

* Ordinance approving the record plat of Farrar Drive Subdivision.

New ordinances (First reading)

* Ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of 801 Good Hope St., and ordinance granting special-use permit to Phillips Development Corp. and Cherry Wood Heights One Limited Partnership for community unit plant for apartments.

* Ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing zoning of 400 block of Olive Street.

* Ordinance amending Chapter 30 of Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of northwest corner of Elm Street and Beaudean Lane.

* Ordinance granting a special-use permit to Lonnie and Shirley Moss for an automotive repair and retail sales business at 155 S. Park Ave.

* Ordinance granting a special-user permit to SEMO University Foundation and Cape Girardeau County for juvenile justice center in Foundation Park.

* Ordinance granting special-use permit to Keith Deimund Trust and Lynwood Baptist Church for a public information sign at Cape La Croix Road and Lynwood Hills Drive.

* Ordinance granting special-use permit to New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church for a children's day-care center at 800 S. Sprigg St.

* Ordinance granting a special-use permit to Robert A. Drury and Telecorp Realty, LLC for a 195-foot cellular communication tower and equipment pad on Silver Springs Road.

* Ordinance granting a special-use permit to Michael A. and Bonnie C. Smith and Summit Enterprises LLC for community plans for apartments in 2700 block of Lynwood Hills Drive.

* Ordinance accepting general warranty deed, permanent drainage easements and temporary construction easements from St. Francis Hospital of Franciscan Sisters and temporary construction easement from Charles L. and Mary Jane Hirsch for extension of Silver Springs Road north of William Street to its existing termination point south of Independence Street.

* Ordinance amending Chapter 15 of City Code by extending a half-cent transportation sales tax and re-establishing a city Transportation Trust Fund, and calling an election on the question whether to approve those amendments designating the time of election and authorizing city clerk to give notice of election.

Resolution (Reading and passage)

* Resolution authorizing city manager to execute an agreement with Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. for Silver Springs Road improvement.

* Resolution authorizing city manager to execute an agreement with Apex Paving Co. for 2000-1 street overlay program.

* Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Jokerst Inc. for the 2000-1 slurry seal preparation.

* Resolution authorizing the city manger to execute an agreement with Robinson Mechanical Contractors dba Robinson Construction Co. for the sanitary sewer improvement program, lift stations and force mains.

* Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an addendum to an engineering services agreement with Strickland Engineering for Independence Street reconstruction from Pacific St. to Sprigg St.

* Resolution authorizing applications to Missouri Department of Social Services under emergency shelter grant program for Safe House for Women Inc. and the Salvation Army and authorizing the city manager to execute all necessary grant documents.

* Resolution acknowledging receipt of an annexation petition and setting a public hearing regarding proposed annexation of Deer Creek Christian Academy.