PROPERTY STANDARDS PANEL IS URGED

Minimum property standards have been studied and discussed long enough. Now it's time to appoint a committee to draft a minimum property standards ordinance that would lead to a law tailored to meet the specific needs of this region.

At least this is the direction Cape Girardeau City Manager J. Ronald Fischer would like to take when the city council meets at 7:30 tonight.

"The city council has been looking at minimum property standards along with the board of appeals for some time," said Fischer.

"Both sides have been following what's been going on and have heard the thoughts of everyone involved," he added. "My recommendation would be that the city council direct me to appoint a committee of those departments responsible for enforcement of minimum property standards."

Once the committee has proposed a draft of minimum property standards ordinance, the council would review it and make comments. "We've got three new council members coming on board soon, so now might be a good time for them to take a look at the original code and then get involved in considering the proposed draft."

The original 1990 BOCA minimum property standards draft was made without any changes. A second draft was made in August 1990 with all of the suggestions submitted by the board of appeals and city council members.

A third draft containing the response and suggested changes to the second draft from the board of appeals came forth Oct. 28, 1993.

A memorandum from City Attorney Warren Wells explaining conflicts between BOCA code and current city ordinances and a review of questions raised by council members emerged Feb. 22, 1994.

Impassioned testimony from a city resident, Theresa Wright, regarding the need for minimum property standards prompted the city council put the item on tonight's agenda.

However, since there is no document to take action on, Fischer has elected to make the suggestion.

"The ultimate responsibility of enforcing a minimum property maintenance code will fall on various departments within the city," said the city manager. Those include inspection, planning, fire, police and legal departments.

"Since there is no document to approve at this time, I feel the action the city council may want to take is to direct me to appoint a committee of representatives from each department and have them prepare a draft ordinance for council review."

Other items to be discussed at Monday's city council meeting:

-- At the last regular city council meeting on March 21, the council directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would call an election for June 7 on the riverboat gambling issue.

Due to confusion that arose from the current legal situation surrounding riverboat gambling, there has been some question as to the proper wording for the ballot issue for such a local option election.

"We have consulted with the Boyd Gaming Corporation and they have requested that we word our local ballot question as it appears in Bill No. 94-73," said Wells.

"We have drafted that ordinance in accordance with their wishes and prepared it as an emergency measure with applicable charter provisions. This bill, if given three readings by the council at the April 4 meeting will call for a special election for June 7, for a reconsideration of the riverboat gambling issue."

-- On June 6, 1988, the council adopted a policy regarding paid fire protection outside city limits. Upon reviewing that policy, it was the fire chief's opinion that there was a need for a revision. "Fire Chief Bob Ridgeway felt the policy needed to be more in line with current developments in the Cape Girardeau County region," said Fischer.

-- At the last city council meeting, the council passed a resolution declaring it necessary for the improvement of Lexington Avenue, extending the centerline of Cape Rock Drive east approximately 1,518 feet to the east right-of-way of Old Sprigg Road. The improvements would include the necessary storm drainage pipes, inlets and other items.

"The resolution of necessity sets a public hearing date for Monday night and a maximum cost of $25 per front foot to be assessed to the abutting property owners," said City Planner J. Kensey Russell.