COUNCIL CHANGES PORPOSED FEES

Changes to a number of proposed fee increases that will go before voters in April were approved Monday night by the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Mayor Al Spradling III proposed, and the council approved, amendments to the proposed expansion of the city's hotel-motel-restaurant tax. Spradling's amendments would impose the city's 3 percent hotel tax on caterers serving 100 or more people at a function and added a definition of caterer to the proposed ordinance.

His amendments also exempt caterers from paying the 1 percent restaurant tax.

The revised tax ordinance is aimed at making collection of the tax more equitable.

Other changes approved by the council include:

-- Revising the proposed increase in license tags for dogs and cats to exempt licensed kennels, as proposed by Councilman Richard Eggimann. The fee would increase from the current $1 to $3 for animals that have been spayed or altered and to $15 for animals not spayed or altered.

Senior citizens would pay fees of $1 for altered animals or $5 for non-altered animals.

-- Killed a proposed $5 fee for fill and grading permits. The proposed fee failed on a 3-3 vote.

-- Amended a proposed increase for out-of-district sewer connection fees from $500 to $250. The current fee is $125.

-- Amended a proposed set of increases for the municipal golf course to set the pull-cart rental fee at $2 per 18 holes rather than $2 per day.

Fee increases approved include:

-- Changing the dog-cat impoundment fee to reflect actual cost rather than a set figure per day.

-- Increasing the private security patrol services permit fee from $10 to $25.

-- Increasing rezoning, special use permit, appeals and variance application fees from $25 to $50.

-- Establishing a new floodplain development permit fee of $25.

-- Increasing the Board of Adjustment appeals fee from $25 to $50.

-- Increasing the subdivision plat review fees from $25 minimum to $90 minimum.

-- Increasing the stormwater permit fees from a $25 minimum and $100 maximum to a $35 minimum and $140 maximum.

-- Increasing admission fees to the Haunted Hall of Horrors and municipal swimming pools, and increasing greens and user fees for the municipal golf course.

In other action, the owner of Peppy's Sports Bar and Grill also asked council members to reconsider their decision to repeal his liquor license.

DeWayne Casey's liquor license for the nightclub expired Dec. 31. The council voted not to renew the probationary license after a police investigation revealed several calls there for assaults, fights and other incidents, including some involving bar employees.

"If you give us this chance, we will assure you that we will do everything in our power to make certain that everything is run properly," Casey said.

Spradling advised him that he will have to re-apply for a license. That process would require another police investigation and a round of inspections before the council takes action.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Monday, Jan. 5

Study session at 5 p.m.

Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Consent ordinances

Approved an ordinance annexing property on the request of Michael A. And Bonnie C. Smith. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance adopting bylaws for the city's Ethics Commission. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance placing stop signs on Siemers Drive at Lambert Drive. Second and third readings.

Approved with amendment an ordinance calling an election for an increase in the dog or cat license fee. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election for an increase in the dog or cat impoundment fee. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election for an increase in the private security patrol services permit fee. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election for an increase in the rezoning and special use permit fees. Second and third readings.

Rejected an ordinance calling an election to establish fill and grading permit fees. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to establish development permit fees. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to increase the Board of Adjustment appeal fee. Second and third readings.

Approved with amendment an ordinance calling an election to increase out-of-district sewer connection fees. Second and third readings.

Approved n ordinance calling an election to increase stormwater permit fees. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to increase subdivision review fees. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to increase the admission fee to the Haunted Hall of Horror. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to establish fees for the use of the Municipal Golf Course. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance calling an election to establish admission fees to the public swimming fees. Second and third readings.

Approved an ordinance amending the hotel/motel/restaurant license tax and calling on election on whether to approve those amendments. Second and third readings.

New ordinances

Approved an ordinance amending the City Code relating to air pollution. First reading.

Approved an ordinance accepting general warranty deeds and a corrected general warranty deed for the police firearms range. First reading.

Approved an ordinance accepting temporary construction easements for the Cape LaCroix/Walker Branch flood control project. First reading. Mayor Al Spradling abstained for financial reasons.

Approved an ordinance accepting sewer easements and temporary construction easements from Kishan Corporation, Joe D. and Candis K. Ford and Florence C. Schlemeyer. First reading.

Resolutions

Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a $272,302 contract with Schuhmacher Fire Equipment for the purchase of a Pierce Manufacturing fire truck. Five bids were received ranging from $259,998 to $273,213, but two bids did not meet specifications. Schuhmacher submitted the lowest qualifying bid.

Approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a $20,300 consulting agreement with Epic Systems, Inc., for design of the wastewater plant SCADA equipment. Reading and passage.

Other

Approved the annual city audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997.

Rescheduled the City Council tour for Feb. 9.

Rejected all bids submitted for the installation of the Twin Lakes Subdivision water system improvements and authorized city staff to rebid the project.