Committee reviews possible hotel, restaurant tax projects

Another step was taken Monday down the path toward determining the next project to be funded by the hotel/motel and restaurant taxes in Cape Girardeau.

The City of Cape Girardeau/Midamerica Hotels Corporation Feasibility Study joint committee gathered Monday for its first meeting to review and discuss four possible projects, one of which will be approved by the group and brought before the Cape Girardeau City Council for consideration. The group consists of seven community committee members, including city council liaison Mark Lanzotti and Midamerica vice president Diane Drury Edwards; also included is Parks and Recreation director Julia Thompson, who serves as project facilitator, and other staff supporters who represent the city's tourism and recreational interests.

The group was formed as part of an agreement between city leaders and executives of Midamerica Hotels to determine the best use of revenue generated from the 4 percent tax charged on hotel stays and the 1 percent tax on restaurant meals. The taxes, which have been used in the past to fund projects that promote tourism, most recently went toward the construction of the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus.

Also part of the agreement is a facility feasibility and economic impact study that must be conducted before a decision is made. Planning Design Studio and Jacobs Engineering of St. Louis, Ballard King of Colorado and HVS Inc. of Chicago are the professional consultants conducting studies for the four suggested facilities.

A fifth facility -- a baseball stadium -- would be considered if a minor league team expressed formal interest, but another committee would be established to assess its economic viability.

Indoor sports complex

The idea of directing the funds to an indoor sports complex has been tossed around since last year. At the meeting, Scott Williams, recreation division manager for the city, said after researching other facilities, it was determined the complex should feature three soccer fields, 10 volleyball courts and five basketball courts. Those numbers open up the possibility to host tournaments in the future and would make the facility competitive with those in cities similar to Cape Girardeau.

He said the inclusion of a concession stand, arcade and rock wall also have been discussed. The inclusion of an outdoor component could be considered, he added, based on cost and location.

Aquatics facility

Thompson said it may not be a well-known fact, but aquatics "has been strong in our area." The Central Municipal Pool is popular for recreational and competitive swimming; the pool is well constructed with straight walls that allow the water to move smoothly, "which is everything" in the world of competitive swimming, Thompson added.

The committee has the opportunity to approve renovating the current facility, which some staff supporters said needs a few updates and additional seating for competitions, or building a new one. If either path for the aquatics facility is chosen, possible additions include a "lazy river" or other shallow-water area for young children and deep water area for water polo.

Agricultural expo center

An agricultural expo was considered a viable option for the group to consider because of the area it would be situated: Arena Park. Thompson said the center -- which could host farmers markets, car shows and antique shows in addition to agricultural events -- would be at the park since the SEMO District Fair and other events are already set up in that area. The project also would have a comparatively lower cost since there would be no need to purchase the land or create a parking area.

Convention center

Because the city already has the Convention and Visitors Bureau, building a new convention center would be considered by the group only if it involved a hotel component. Building a convention center that had a ballroom, meeting rooms, lodging and dining in one convenient area could draw in large groups that host yearly conferences, said Randy Kluge, committee member and director of hotels at Drury Southwest. Such a facility also would have a number of "intangible benefits," he said, because visiting groups would shop and eat in Cape Girardeau.

Thompson said it was important to consider those types of benefits and the number of people each project might attract, and how long they might keep visitors in the area. Some of the committee members noted that tournaments and conferences especially drew crowds that would spend multiple days in the city.

On May 9, the committee will meet again with the consultants. It expects to present a final report to the council by late October or early November.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.