PARTICIPATION GOAL FUNFULFILLED PART OF VISION 2000

Melvin Gateley admits that Vision 2000 didn't overcome all the community spirit problems it set out to address in Cape Girardeau's first-ever strategic plan.

Vision 2000 did make some improvements in community spirit, particularly with its addition of roses and blooming flowers -- more than 4,000 roses and more than 42,00 bulbs total.

On the other hand, voter participation still remains low and many people feel there isn't enough communication between residents and city government. Few residents attend public meetings sponsored by Vision 2000.

But the group did other things as well. A strategic plan was drafted in 1988 to help Cape Girardeau approach future growth and development. The plan addresses four areas -- community spirit; education; business, industry and jobs; and planning and zoning.

The work has come to an end, and Vision 2020, another strategic planning group, is ready to take the helm at week's end. A reunion of former committee members, parade and awards banquet are being planned.

Vision 2000 allowed people to become more aware of their community and what was happening around them, said Mayor Al Spradling III.

The group achieved 19 of its 25 objectives -- voter participation was among those left lacking.

"We've got a good thing going here," said Loretta Schneider, who worked with Vision 2000 and is now serving on a Vision 2020 committee. The work will continue with the city's next strategic plan, which is already in draft form.

Vision 2000 set high standards from the beginning: Increase voter registration to 90 percent of the city's residents and voter participation to 75 percent by 2000.

"We registered a lot of people, but we didn't conquer participation," said Gateley.

About 25,000 people are registered to vote in Cape Girardeau but few of them head to the polls regularly.

Schneider said Vision 2000 worked to register people who hadn't ever voted before and "it makes it difficult if they don't come out and vote," she said.

Voter turnout rates in the city continue to hover around 20 percent; presidential elections draw larger crowds. Just 4 percent of the city's voters turned out for a single-issue ballot in February. It was the lowest turnout ever for the city, officials said.

"I cannot understand why people living in this great land will not go to the polls and vote," Gateley said.

Schneider also works as an election judge at the Precinct 16 polling place. It has one of the highest turnout rates in the city.

"Every election is different," Schneider said. "Each time you see more young people, and you can tell if it's their first time voting. You hope they come back."

Gateley hopes that Vision 2020 will continue to address the issue of voter participation in its strategic plan. He attributes the voter apathy to human nature. "When things are bad and people can complain, then they come out to talk," he said. "When things are well, their interest drops."

While voter participation posed a problem, Vision 2000 had greater success getting residents and the city together to talk. Public meetings were a mainstay of that effort. Several key city improvements -- like the Transportation Trust Fund, sewer improvements and a historic preservation ordinance -- can credit their passage to the work of Vision 2000 public meetings.

The school district also benefited from the planning efforts. During 1996, Vision 2000 dozens of public meetings as a way of talking to people interested in improving education. The meetings led in part to passage of a $14 million bond issue and construction of a new elementary school, vocational-technical building and high school.

Yet a recent round of public meetings on a Transportation Trust Fund extension were "among our poorer examples," Gateley said.

People still feel reluctant to come to public meetings, which often eat up what little free time they have left, Schneider said. "I don't think we've created much of a comfortable forum for people to make constructive suggestions."

Schneider would like the City Council members to host office hours for drop-in visitors at City Hall or a hotline for offering constructive suggestions or asking questions. "We shouldn't have to wait 10 years to present good ideas," she said.

Spradling said some perceptions still haven't changed about voicing ideas to the city but Vision 2000 told people what was going on and "how to be heard." Residents are always welcome to attend city meetings and voice their concerns, he added.

Coming Tuesday: How did Vision 2000 encourage Cape Girardeau to continue learning?

COMMUNITY SPIRIT GOALS

Increase voter registration and participation

Objective 1: Incrase voter registration to 90 percent and voter participation to 75 percent by the year 2000. (Review annually.)

This objective was not met

Objective 2: Undertake three community pride projects annually to improve the image of the Cape Girardeau area.

This objective was met.

Foster cooperation between citizens and city government

Objective 1: Develop and implement a community relations program.

This objective was met. A Community Relations Council wa selected by 1990 to help keep Vision 2000 members on task. It continues to meet today.

Objective 2: Create a Community Information Center.

This objective was met: The information center came online near the end of the Vision 2000 program through the Show-me Net Internet service. An information and referral service is also available thorugh the direction of the Area Wide United Way. Both provide information about essential services and programs in the city.