CITY WILL TALK TO TCI ABOUT DIGITAL COMPRESSION PLAN

TCI should expect a call from Cape Girardeau's city manager soon.

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted to have City Manager Michael Miller head a team to begin discussions with the cable television company about changing its franchise agreement with the city.

TCI's franchise agreement with Cape Girardeau requires it to wire the city with fiber optic cable by next April. TCI contends that would be too expensive and wants to sign a new agreement to bring in digital compression instead.

To sell the change, TCI invited representatives of the city to visit Berlin, Conn., to view its system, the first in the country to use digital compression technology to increase the number of channels available with enhanced picture quality.

The additional channels would be available only at an additional cost, while subscribers could keep the rates they would pay after a 4 percent rate hike goes into effect June 1.

After two members of the city's Cable TV Advisory Committee viewed the Connecticut system, the committee voted to open discussions about installing a similar system in Cape Girardeau.

"We are, of course, interested in people getting quality cable service with a sufficient number of channels," Miller said after the meeting. "The system they are offering seems to provide that."

Miller's assistant, Walter Denton, viewed the system in Connecticut. He said if TCI makes digital compression available for the entire area, it would have to upgrade its lines to parts of the city that get the poorest signal now. The DMX digital music option that TCI offers isn't available in all parts of the franchise area because the cables don't transmit a strong enough signal.

If TCI wants to offer the digital compression option, Denton said it would have to make it available in areas that can't now get DMX.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

Proclamation and plaque to Walt Westrich.

Proclamation for National Tourism Month.

The council enacted the following consent ordinances:

Established the boundaries of Lateral Sewer District No. 12-PP-7 and 14-L-7, a subdivision of Trunk Sewer District No. 12-PP and 14-L.

Approved the record plat of Pindwood Place Subdivision.

Changed the zoning of 2336 Kingsway Drive from R-1 to C-2.

Granted a special-use permit to Holigan Homes Inc. for a family day-care home for 10 children at 626 Woodbine Place.

Granted a special-use permit to Cape Girardeau Public School District for a 60-foot-tall communication antenna at Jefferson Elementary School, 520 Minnesota Ave.

Granted a special-use permit to Robert A. and Ann R. Drury for a four-story office building at 3065 William St.

Granted a special-use permit to Cape Girardeau Public School District for a 70-foot-tall communication tower at Washington Elementary School.

An ordinance amending the City Code relating to zoning.

Vacated the city's interest in a utility easement in Oak Hills Subdivision.

Accepted a permanent easement from L. Danisse Ross for utilities maintenance in Oak Hills Subdivision.

Authorized an amendment to an agreement for engineering services with Black & Veatch for the transportation improvments program.

Repealed a handicapped parking space on South Frederick Street.

Established a no-parking zone on Linden Street.

Established a no-parking zone on West End Boulevard.

Established a no-parking zone on Jefferson Street.

Accepted a general warranty deed from Charles J. and Evelyn L. Sitzes for the Cape La Croix/Walker Branch flood-control project.

Held first readings of the following ordinances:

A lease for a right of way on Highway 61 in front of the Public Works Building.

Accepting permanent easements for the Twin Lakes Subdivision water main extension project.

Accepting permanent easements for the Wastewater Treatment Plant access project.

Accepting into the city's system the sanitary-sewer and water-main improvements at Ashland Court Subdivision.

Resolutions:

Authorized an agreement with the U.S. Army for street and storm-drainage improvements to Karau Lane on Walker Branch Phase III.

Appointments

Appointed Steve Robertson, John Ferguson and Harry Drummond to the Airport Advisory Board.

Appointed Randy Kluge to the Convention and Visitors Advisory Board.

Liquor License:

Conditionally approved a retail liquor-by-the-drink license for Bertha Smith d/b/a Bert's BarBQ, 517 N. Silver Springs.

Other business:

Approved a recommendation of the Cable TV Advisory Committee to open discussions with TCI Cablevision about a new franchise agreement.