New Community Improvement District seeks to offer services by fall

It's been nearly a year since the Downtown Community Improvement District was approved by the Cape Girardeau City Council, and individuals involved with the district are hopeful the entity could begin offering services by fall.

A CID Services Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon reviewed the group's five-year plan, which focuses on improved safety, cleanliness and projected revenue. The panel also discussed Community Improvement District services to determine what it hopes to offer in the future and what city services are in place.

Assistant city manager Molly Hood offered information on existing city services in the district, which include trash bin pickup, snow removal and some landscape maintenance. The Community Improvement District encompasses the riverfront areas of Water, Main and Spanish streets and covers the eastern section of Broadway.

As was promised to district voters before they received mail-in ballots in September to approve a property and sales tax, the Community Improvement District's creation does not mean city services will diminish. Any services offered through revenue generated by the Community Improvement District will add to what is offered by the city.

Voters ultimately approved a half-cent sales tax to be levied within district boundaries, but voted down the property tax of $0.6709 per $100 assessed valuation. One revenue stream meant the Community Improvement District would not bring in an expected $255,000 per year.

Recent estimates predict the sales tax will generate about $175,000 per year. But Jon K. Rust, chairman for the Downtown CID board of directors, pointed out the group couldn't be certain of an exact number.

Rust is publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications.

The city distributed letters to business owners at the beginning of the year, reminding them to apply the newly approved sales tax to customer purchases, but there's a chance some businesses may not apply it correctly for the first few months.

Getting a feel for the exact revenue the Community Improvement District will have is an important step for determining how to fund services in the district.

Based on the five-year plan presented to voters, 47 percent of funds would be allocated for "clean and attractive" services, including trash and litter pickup and streetscape maintenance; 21 percent was designated for safety efforts such as contracting additional security services or offering cost-share grant opportunities with businesses for security cameras; 20 percent was set aside for marketing and special events; and 12 percent would go for professional or administrative needs, including legal, finance and accounting costs and "representation of interests with other entities."

The committee members who gathered Tuesday did not identify all the services to be offered by the Community Improvement District, but determined since it had an interest in so many different areas, identifying a project manager to oversee hiring contractors to carry out tasks likely would be the best move.

Committee members in attendance -- who included Rust, Tim Arbeiter, Bruce Skinner and Lindy Pridmore -- agreed to draft a request for qualifications for a plan of work.

The request not only could identify entities interested taking over project management needs, but also gives the committee an idea of its costs. Any action would need the approval of the Community Improvement District board of directors.

The Community Improvement District services committee will meet again April 1 at city hall.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641