The Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to move forward with a plan for soliciting proposals and selecting an excursion gambling boat operator by March 7.
The council also agreed to conduct public meetings each month as part of the city council agenda to update citizens and seek their comments regarding the riverboat selection process.
But proponents of riverboat gambling complained after the meeting that the council's timetable is much too slow.
Several people huddled around Mayor Gene Rhodes, querying him about the process. They said they fear Cape Girardeau could lose its opportunity for a state gaming license if it takes too long to select a riverboat operator.
During the meeting, David Knight of the Yes Group, which campaigned for riverboat gambling, urged "deliberate speed" in the process.
"We don't want to be reckless, but the gaming commission at some point will be issuing licenses, and they'll issue licenses to those communities ready to receive them," he said.
But some of the council members said at the council's study session they want to take the time to ensure the best deal possible for the city.
"I know this will be perceived by some as a delay tactic on my part -- it's not," said Councilman Mary Wulfers, a riverboat gambling opponent. "But our opportunity here for generating funds for the city is huge.
"If we go at a hyper-accelerated pace, the right company won't have time to make a proposal."
Other council members said they want public participation in the process.
The plan set forth by the city staff calls for a "thorough but expeditious" selection process. A key part of the plan would entail drafting "in-house" a document to solicit proposals from riverboat operators.
Gayle Conrad, deputy city clerk, said five companies have inquired at city hall about the solicitation document. They include C. Rallo Construction and Thalden Corp., both of St. Louis, Arrowstone Co. of Englewood, Colo., White Construction of Auburn, Ala., and the Boyd Group of Las Vegas, Nev.
The city staff has examined procedures followed by other cities in Missouri where riverboat gambling has been approved.
City officials said they hope the process in Cape Girardeau will build on those cities' success, while avoiding their mistakes.
Some of the items that would be included in the process include assessment of the riverboat's impact on the city's sanitary and storm sewers, water system, transportation, utilities, zoning laws, and economy.
About 45 people attended Monday's meeting, most in reference to the riverboat gambling issue.
Cape Girardeau physician Michael Wulfers and Hugh Stone, director of the Gibson Recovery Center, asked that any riverboat operator be required to set aside money for counseling and treatment of people addicted to gambling.
Wulfers, who is Mary Wulfers' husband, said research shows that 4-5 percent of the population is predisposed to become pathological gamblers.
Stone said the Gibson Recovery Center is prepared to offer a contract to the city for the treatment services.
Roy Jones, a Cape Girardeau minister and representative of the city's ministerial alliance, said that in the wake of the bitter campaign he hoped residents could work together in the selection process.
"We want to do as much as we can to move our community forward," Jones said.
Scott Bechtold asked that the council adopt several laws prior to the selection of a riverboat operator.
His suggestions included restrictions on billboard advertising for gambling, prohibition of nude dancing and other "Las Vegas-type" entertainment on the boat, and a ban on welfare recipients entering the boat to gamble.
In other business Monday, the council voted 4-1 against a rezoning request at the corner of Perryville Road and Lexington Avenue.
Harold and Yvonne Werner had asked the council to rezone 2011-2019 Perryville Road from single-family residential to local commercial district.
But several residents of the area petitioned the council to reject the request.
Councilman Wulfers said the council had previously promised it would limit commercial development along Lexington.
"I think (the rezoning) is a reneging by the city council on an agreement made with residents on Lexington to keep it residential," she said.
Wulfers, and Councilmen Melvin Kasten, Melvin Gateley and David Limbaugh voted against the request, while Al Spradling III voted in favor. Mayor Gene Rhodes, who lives right across the street from the tract, abstained from voting.
In other action:
--20The council approved a resolution to adopt the solid waste management plan for the Southeast Missouri Solid Waste District.
-- A resolution to contract with Sverdrup Environmental Inc. to review and analyze the old St. Francis Hospital building for hazardous materials and alternative uses failed for lack of a motion.
-- The council agreed to lease a spot in the Municipal Airport Terminal Building to Ace Rent A Car.
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