Dozens turn out for public hearing on downtown CID

It was standing room only as the Cape Girardeau City Council kicked off its regular meeting Monday night.

Dozens came to give their input at the public hearing to consider the petition for the creation of the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District, which would impose a $0.6708 property tax and half-cent sales tax within the district. The area includes a portion of Broadway and Water, Main and Spanish streets and portions of adjoining streets.

Jim Maurer, chairman of the CID steering committee, attended the meeting to offer a few details about the petition and answer questions. He said the main services the committee hoped the CID would provide included beautification, safety and capital improvements.

Many who spoke at the public hearing were not in favor of the CID. Some were residential property owners who believed it was unfair for them to pay a tax that would benefit other properties and owners.

But a few business owners also stood and told the council they didn't believe the CID was necessary. Leland Shivelbine ran Shivelbine's Music on Broadway for 40 years until his retirement, and the store now is operated by other members of the Shivelbine family. He said he thinks the costs of the CID outweigh the benefits.

"The taxes have been increasing for many years in Cape Girardeau ..." he said. "This has resulted in more and more people not shopping in Cape Girardeau."

He said he recognized that a half-cent sales tax was minimal, but it might be enough to push people to buy online rather than shop downtown. Like many who spoke at the public hearing, he also believed that beautification -- or picking up trash and keeping grassy areas neat -- was the responsibility of the business owner.

But some people stood in favor of the CID. Laurie Everett, owner of Annie Laurie's Antiques, just a few yards away from Shivelbine's on Broadway, said she believed the CID could do a lot to improve the area.

"I literally walk up and down Broadway pulling weeds and picking up trash, trying to make the district look presentable. But I'm just one person. ..." she said.

The council ultimately gave first round approval to the ordinance approving the petition to create the downtown CID, with Councilwoman Shelly Moore the only member to vote against; Councilman Mark Lanzotti was absent. Should it be approved in a second and third reading, the downtown CID would be a political body independent of city government with its own board of directors.

For the tax measures to go into effect, the residents of the district who are registered voters -- Maurer said it's a total of about 150 people -- would have to approve via mail-in ballot. They must be approved by at least 50 percent of the ballots cast to pass.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.