COUNCIL TO FORM PANEL TO STUDY MINIMUM HOUSING STANDARDS

After listening to testimony from several Cape Girardeau residents, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to form a committee to study minimum housing standards. The committee will have 60 days to draft a recommendation.

"I think we need to move on with this," said Ward 2 Councilman Tom Neumeyer, one of three newly elected city council members. Richard Eggimann, who also is on the council for the first time, representing Ward 6, suggested tabling the matter in order to provide time for further study of minimum housing standards.

Eggimann's motion failed for lack of a second, and council members again took up discussion, which led to unanimous approval of a motion to appoint the committee.

Said Councilman Melvin Gateley, "With the proper representation, along with input from the city staff and city council, I think we can roll up our sleeves and work this thing out."

J.J. Williamson, yet another newly elected city council member, "It is time to act on this to come to some workable solution." Williamson represents Ward 1.

Anyone interested in applying for a position on the committee may call City Hall for an application, which also may be picked up in person.

Gateley suggested the committee be comprised of one member from the Downtown Neighborhood Association, one member from the Cape chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one member from the city's board of appeals, two tenants, two rental property owners and one residential land owner along with a member of the city staff.

The city council voted to appoint the committee and allow it 60 days to make a recommendation to the council. The committee will be named at the council's May 16 meeting.

Several Cape residents urged the city council to look at the national Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) version of a property maintenance code to insure safe, clean neighborhoods. "The city of Cape Girardeau isn't going forward, it's going backward as far as I'm concerned," said Cecilia Sonderman, a former city council member.

"We shouldn't look at this as landlord against tenant, but as a means to take care of a problem that is getting worse. There are health problems involved that need to be addressed right away."

Michael Sterling, president of the Cape NAACP, provided city council members with a letter, which was read by Debra Willis, community relations chair for the local NAACP. The letter stressed the need for a BOCA code and for attention given to the southeast part of the city.

"The NAACP historically advocates positive change and this can only come about by the relentless and cooperative efforts of both of our organizations," said Sterling in the letter, which has been sent to regional and national members of the NAACP, Gov. Mel Carnahan, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, Missouri Sen. Peter Kinder and state Rep. Mary Kasten.

In other business Monday, two ordinances affecting parking on Louisiana Street were amended. The amendment involves a revision to the no-parking zones for the 300 and 400 blocks of Louisiana Street.

With the revision, parking will be prohibited on the east and west sides of the street, from the corner of Broadway and Louisiana Street, south along the east and west curb lines for 235 feet.

Yellow striping will be applied on the east side curb line, directly opposite the west side driveways of the homes at 321 and 317 North Louisiana Street. A vacant lot fronts the east side of the street.

In other action the council:

-- Appointed Gateley as mayor pro tempore. The council tabled appointment of an ex-officio member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors until the next meeting.

-- Approved a resolution establishing an election schedule for the selection of a council member from Ward 3, which was vacated with Al Spradling III's election as mayor.

-- Approved an ordinance granting a special-use permit to D & G Properties for purposes of constructing a Sonic Drive-in restaurant at 2126 Broadway.

-- Announced the city-wide spring cleanup program. Residents may put trash items that are bundled or no longer than four feet and no heavier than 75 pounds next to their curb to be picked up on their next regular trash day.