COUNCIL CHANGES SUNSET PARKING RULES

After watching 17 wrecks in five years, Sunset Boulevard residents are accustomed to the sight of police cars on their street.

Cape Girardeau City Council members hope a new parking plan on Sunset will end the traffic confusion. Two of the 17 accidents involved school buses and one almost killed a pedestrian.

Under a plan passed Monday night, parking will be limited on Sunset 123 feet from the northeast corner of Lacey Street. Parking won't be allowed in that area from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Four spaces, primarily used by Southeast Missouri Hospital employees, will be eliminated during that time.

Councilman Melvin Gateley proposed the plan, saying Sunset residents liked it the best. Several residents, including Dennis Browning, complained at earlier council meetings that other plans might eliminate on-street parking they need.

"This is great, as long as people don't come further down the street," Browning said Monday. "I said before it wasn't fair to end the parking right in front of our houses. It's the only place to park."

Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said crews will place temporary signs on the spaces warning drivers not to park there. Eventually, permanent signs will be posted on the sidewalk.

"I'm sure we're getting the same people there all the time, people working for the hospital," Boyd said. "I can't force them into the lot, but they will have to find somewhere else to park."

He said the problem was that people turning from Lacey onto Sunset couldn't see past cars and were being hit by traffic coming off Broadway.

The council acted on another traffic-related problem Monday, adjusting city law to fit the new speed limit on Interstate 55.

The old law said the speed limit was 65 miles per hour on Interstate 55 in the Cape Girardeau city limits. The law was updated to agree with the state's decision to make the speed limit 70 miles per hour.

City Attorney Eric Cunningham advised the council to act quickly on the change because it would be impossible to prosecute speeding tickets on Interstate 55 under the old system of fines.

Councilman James Williamson Jr. said there are other cities with interstate access that set up speed traps to raise revenue. He asked the police chief if Cape police did that.

"We don't want that kind of notoriety," Boyd said.

He said the department had been accused of setting speed traps by an upset motorist. Research revealed that only three tickets issued on Interstate 55 in 18 months were for less than 9 miles per hour over the speed limit.

"We're not out there writing them for 1 or 2 miles over," Boyd said. "There's no question the people we catch are speeding."

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

Monday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.

Public Hearing

-- Vacate city's interest in a 10-foot utility easement in Chapel Heights Subdivision.

Consent Ordinances

-- Enacted new city coade on jury trials.

-- Vacated the city's interest in permanent easements and temporary construction easements for the Upper Cape LaCroix Trunk Sewer Project.

-- Amended the boundaries of Ward 4 to include Hanover Lutheran Church properties.

-- Accepted a warranty deed for closure of city landfill.

-- Established I-55 speed limits

-- Amended the city code relating to careful and prudent operation of a motor vehicle.

-- Approved a plat for Rusmar Street.

-- Enacted code relating to prohibited truck traffic.

Resolutions

-- Authorized agreement for Juden Creek Conservation area.

-- Authorized memorandum to Federal Aviation Administration about air traffic control tower.

-- Authorized agreement with Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc. to close landfill.

Liquor License

-- Granted conditional approval of a retail liquor by-the-drink Sunday sales license for Applebee's Bar and Grill.

Other

-- Authorized the request of Harold Meyer for an out-of-district sewer permit for a connection into Sewer District 14-1-F.

-- Set a special City Council meeting for noon Monday to declare the results of Tuesday's city election.

-- Changed parking rules in the 600 block of North Sunset.