COUNCIL TO VIEW FUNDING FOR GROUP

The Cape Girardeau City Council Wednesday will consider a contract with the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association for services to solicit business, industry and commerce for the area.

The council also will consider first reading of a law appropriating the city's $50,000 annual fee for the services.

The council earlier this month tabled the matter because the group hadn't yet decided where to locate its offices an issue that was resolved last week when the board of directors voted to place the office in the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce building on North Kingshighway.

The council recommended that the association operate out of the chamber, and some members indicated reluctance to support the association unless it heeded the recommendation.

In a letter to council members, Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said the contract the council will consider Wednesday will "formalize the city's participation" in the association.

"Our understanding is that the board of directors of the association has recommended this contract to each of the founders and has made the decision to locate their offices in the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce in accord with the proposal previously made by that organization," Stoverink said.

"The city staff recommends adoption of the resolution approving the contract and the first reading of the appropriation ordinance."

In other business Wednesday, the council will consider whether to hire the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission of Perryville to analyze 1990 U.S. Census Bureau data to develop ward boundaries that will enable the city in 1994 to implement ward-style council elections.

Voters in November approved a city charter amendment to switch to ward elections, but the measure established zones that were widely varied in population.

Because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that such zones or wards be as close in total population as possible, the city council and a citizens group has embarked on an effort to "clean up" the zone boundaries and make them legal.

In a letter to council members, City Attorney Warren Wells said the Zone Election Committee met Jan. 7 and recommended the regional planning commission be hired to compile the census data that will enable the drawing of legal boundaries.

"The staff has contacted the Regional Planning Commission and a mapping services contract has been developed for this purpose," Wells said.

The cost of the contract with the planning commission won't exceed $5,000, Wells said.

The council also will consider a six-month extension to the Cape Girardeau cable television franchise of TCI Cablevision of Missouri. The franchise agreement expired in December, but negotiations toward a new franchise are ongoing.

"If this bill is adopted, it will extend TCI's right to operate in the city until June 7," said Wells. "The ordinance would be retroactive so that the six-month extension period would begin Dec. 6, 1992.

A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday night to gain citizens' comments on the proposed extension. Also, the council will consider a resolution that would ensure the city be granted the right to regulate basic cable TV rates.

Wells said in a letter to the council that the Cable Regulatory Act adopted last year by Congress "provides in part that local franchising authorities may be granted the right to exert certain regulatory powers over the cable TV companies with respect to basic cable rates."

But to qualify for the right to exercise the authority, the city must apply for approval from the Federal Communications Commission, Wells said.

"The FCC has not adopted its rules with regard to regulation of rates and it is unclear as to exactly what degree of control the franchising authority will have over cable rates," he added. "On the other hand, if the city does not seek the authority to regulate rates then that opportunity may be lost."

In other business the council will consider:

A $34,425 contract with E.R. Thompson Construction Co. for additions to the city's recycling center. The city engineer's estimate for the work was $21,558. Other bids received were from MacCon Co. of Gordonville, $46,086, and Penzel Construction of Jackson, $45,943.

20First reading of an ordinance calling a special election June 8 in the city on the question of whether the city will allow the licensing of excursion gambling boats here.

First reading of an ordinance accepting permanent easements and temporary construction easements for the College-Jefferson Community Block Grant Sewer Project.

A resolution to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with Koehler Land Surveying for the Cape LaCroix Creek/Walker Branch Flood Control project.

Conditional approval of a retail liquor by the drink license to Captain China Inc., 2123 Broadway.

A motion to accept street improvements in Woodland Place Subdivisions 7 and 8 and the release of escrow funds to pay for the improvements.

A motion to discuss the appointment of a city representative to the Southeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District.