Panel submits recommendations on nuisance ordinance changes

The city of Cape Girardeau is asking for public input as it updates ordinances that govern nuisances.

City officials announced a public meeting for Wednesday, where city staff will be on hand to discuss recommended changes to the ordinances that cover graffiti, unlicensed vehicles, open storage, vacant buildings and places the city deems "chronic nuisances" -- any property where nuisances are seen as a recurring issue or are the scene of repeated criminal activity.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Osage Centre. An online survey on nuisances was recently posted on the city's website.

City manager Scott Meyer said officials' discussions and the city council's eventual action on ordinances will partly be directed by input received from the meeting and the survey. The city has prepared a list of recommended changes, produced by a committee from the police, public works and development services departments and a staff member from the city attorney's office.

The committee began researching effective nuisance ordinances in other Missouri cities and evaluated Cape Girardeau's current ordinances in

February. In June, the committee issued a report to city management with its recommendations on how to improve nuisance abatement through changes and additions to ordinances.

For graffiti, the committee recommended a new ordinance requiring an owner or responsible party to keep property clear of graffiti and remove it within 15 days of receiving notice by the city, or be charged for abatement.

Unlicensed vehicles would be dealt with by changing ordinance language to make an unlicensed vehicle a "damaged or disabled vehicle," so current ordinances pertaining to unlicensed vehicles would be more easily enforced.

Prohibiting open storage of certain items, or display of "junk," also was recommended by the committee. Covered under that would be bedding, bottles, broken glass, cans, cardboard, cartons, indoor furniture, jars, building supplies not neatly stacked, machine and vehicle parts, pallets, paper, plumbing fixtures, inoperable appliances, scrap metal, tire rims, tires and water heaters. None of the items would be allowed outside on porches, decks, driveways, yards or anywhere that could be seen off the premises. People responsible would have five days from the time they received a notice from the city to remove items, or the city would remove the items and bill the responsible party.

Any building unoccupied for six months would be declared a public nuisance under a new vacant building ordinance. Property owners would have to obtain an annual permit at $100 for any buildings remaining vacant more than six months and secure the building to prevent unlawful entry.

Another ordinance would classify properties where specific illegal activities are occurring as "chronic nuisances." The city attorney could declare a property a nuisance and a hearing would determine the declaration's validity. A property owner would have to submit an improvement plan to the city if a property were to be closed by the city under the ordinance. The property would remain closed until all issues were resolved and, if the city were to abate the issues, the owner would be issued a special tax bill for the cost.

In addition, language in the city code relating to abatement of nuisances would change, according to the recommendations, since the procedure for enforcement and hearings doesn't cover all nuisances, as would fines for nuisances. As written, violations of the city's nuisance codes are punishable by fines up to $500. A new minimum fine would be $125 per violation.

Meyer said a tentative timeline for the council to vote on proposed changes is by the end of the year.

The effort to overhaul the ordinances is the city's response to concerns and complaints about nuisances, said Mayor Harry Rediger. A survey in 2012 showed people felt issues that needed "major attention" included rundown buildings and homes, vacant buildings, abandoned properties and junk vehicles.

Meyer said as the city sees it, no significant amount of money or additional resources should be needed to enforce the ordinances because of the way nuisance abatement is assigned to police officers who are tasked with other duties. The ordinances, he said, should instead make abatement easier and give officers tools to better deal with them.

The online survey is available at cityofcapegirardeau.org.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

Proposed nuisance ordinance changes

* Property owners would be responsible for removing graffiti within 15 days

* Unlicensed vehicles would be declared a nuisance

* Open storage of certain items, or junk, would be prohibited

* Property owners would be required to register properties with the city if vacant more than six months

* City would establish and follow procedures for the prompt abatement of nuisances, issuing tax bills to recover abatement costs and shutting down properties for criminal or chronic nuisances

* City would establish a $125 minimum fine for nuisance violations

Source: City of Cape Girardeau

Want to go?

What: Public meeting on nuisances in city of Cape Girardeau

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Osage Centre