Community improvement district to begin implementing services

Implementation of services and the appointment of a new board member were the top items on the agenda when the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District's board of directors met Thursday.

Daniel Statler recently resigned from the board because he no longer owns property in the district and therefore no longer is eligible to serve.

Statler served as assistant secretary and assistant treasurer, roles now filled by board member Bruce Skinner, who was nominated at the meeting.

To determine who might fill the empty seat on the board, a nominating committee was formed. Vice chairman Dave Hutson and chairman Jon K. Rust -- who is also publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications -- volunteered to serve on the committee, although all members were asked to consider and suggest individuals who might be interested in serving on the board.

Much of the conversation Thursday was focused on services to be offered within the community improvement district and when those services might begin.

"There is a lot of stuff that's starting to roll out now," Rust said.

Goals of the district are to grow or enhance safety, beautification and other downtown needs, but it was determined an outside entity was needed to help administer the tasks.

A request for qualifications seeking entities interested in executing and administering the tasks outlined in the district's five-year plan was issued in April, and the board of directors approved a resolution to enter into a contract with Old Town Cape in July.

The community improvement district expects a half-cent sales tax levied within its boundaries to generate about $175,000 a year for the district.

The five-year plan calls for half the money to be dedicated to services promoting cleanliness and attractiveness in the district, 20 percent to safety measures, 20 percent to promoting vibrancy and 10 percent for professional needs, such as legal requirements and financial reporting.

Per the one-year contract, Old Town Cape would locate vendors and negotiate and approve contracts. Copies of all vendor contracts will be provided, and regular reports should be made to the district.

Representing Old Town Cape at the meeting were Marla Mills and Christa Zickfield.

Mills explained some services under the "clean and attractive" category begun in August.

Teen Challenge crews provide three litter pickups per week, including one day of "deep cleaning" when they pick up even the smaller discarded items, such as cigarette butts.

But those services will suffice only in a short-term capacity, she said. It's a struggle to get Saturday pickups arranged, and Teen Challenge does not perform litter pickup on Sundays, she said.

Cornerstone Facility Management is interested in providing a more comprehensive, long-term approach, and Mills said negotiations and conversations are happening, but no commitments have been made.

The facility management company has worked with businesses in the downtown area, with some on the board familiar with and approving of its work. Estimates offered by the company for litter management fall a few thousand dollars short of the $35,000 annual budget the district has allotted for those services.

The district also has $25,000 dedicated to streetscape and beautification efforts, and Mills said work has been done with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department to determine the best way to enhance the area. The initial plan is to place some benches and trash cans on Broadway, west of Pacific Street, where she said such amenities are lacking. The parks department would empty the trash cans, and the district would reimburse them for the services.

Another city department cooperating with the district to consider potential future services is police.

As part of its goal to increase safety in the downtown area, the district has discussed possibly enlisting the services of private security officials or working with local police to set up more patrols.

Mills said working with the police department rather than private security would offer "the biggest bang for our buck," although the district might have to pay overtime for the officers.

Conversations still are happening to develop an agreement with the city and the department, and at the behest of the board, Mills said efforts would be made to create a schedule with no or limited overtime, but she wasn't hopeful. There are only a limited number of officers, she explained.

"They only have so many FTEs [full-time employees], and they're already covering their shifts," she said.

Another security measure discussed by the district was additional security cameras, but that project likely will not be started until next year.

One plan that soon will be rolled out is the new holiday decorations, for which the district budgeted $15,000.

Thirty light poles along Broadway will be wrapped with garland and lights this holiday season.

A multimedia campaign in the works also will kick off by promoting the holiday season, and Old Town Cape is working on a branding process for the downtown area with the district as a partner.

Board members said they were pleased to see so many projects in the works for the district, with member Kent Zickfield pointing out the importance of getting "something tangible done this year."

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.