HOUSING STANDARDS, PARKING MATTER ON TAP FOR COUNCIL

Minimum housing standards, a parking dilemma on Louisiana Street and a traffic study request for a new Sonic Drive-In will be among items on the agenda of the new Cape Girardeau City Council Monday.

James J.J. Williamson, Richard L. "Butch" Eggimann and Tom Neumeyer, all elected via the ward system, will address such issues for the first time as members of the council. Al Spradling III will preside as the newly-elected mayor.

Michael Sterling, president of the Cape Girardeau NAACP, has requested that housing and minimum housing standards be placed on the agenda. That request was honored by City Manager J. Ronald Fischer and will be addressed Monday.

Yet another item that is in its third phase of consideration is a citizen's request for parking changes in the 300 and 400 blocks of North Louisiana. Michael Ballou of 409 N. Louisiana appeared before the council at the last two meetings but has yet to receive action on his proposed amendment or rescinding of ordinances 1490 and 1492.

The last city council elected not to vote on the issue since it involved Southeast Missouri Hospital. Four city council members, who are either on the board of directors or are related to someone on the board of directors of the hospital, cited conflicts of interest as a reason they could not vote.

With a new city council there will be enough members to vote on the proposed amendment.

Up for amendment is the city ordinance to prohibit parking on the east and west sides of North Louisiana from the intersection of Broadway and Louisiana southward a distance of 235 feet.

Another proposed amendment is to create two no-parking spaces to allow residents of 317 and 321 Louisiana to safely back out of driveways. The first no-parking space would begin at a distance of 288 feet north of the northeast intersection of Luce and North Louisiana and continue northward along the east curb line for a distance of 26 feet.

The second no-parking space would begin at a distance of 339 feet North of northeast intersection of Luce and North Louisiana Street and continue northward on the east curb line for a distance of 20 feet.

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd remains opposed to any changes in the 300 and 400 blocks of North Louisiana due to the narrow, 24-foot width of the street. According to Boyd, safety is the primary concern for eliminating parking on both sides of the street.

The required public hearing on the special use permit by D&G Properties for a Sonic Drive-In Restaurant at 2126 Broadway, which actually fronts on Kingsway, was held at the April 4 council meeting.

City council members expressed concerns about traffic that would be generated by the proposed drive-in and requested that D&G prepare a traffic impact study. The council also moved to place the matter on the agenda for Monday's meeting for first reading consideration of a special use permit.

Mel Dockins, who represents D&G, met with City Engineer J. Kensey Russell on April 5 to discuss the traffic study. This was followed on April 6 by a letter form Russell to Dockins outlining the scope of items to be considered in the study.

The council may decide to proceed with first reading of the ordinance, with second and third readings being contingent upon receipt of the traffic study. Or the council may want to further table the matter and consider all three readings at its next meeting.