VISION 2020 SUGGESTED; COUNCIL SETS NOV. 30 FORUM ON RIVER CAMPUS

The Cape Girardeau City Council took a preliminary step Monday to continue Vision 2000 beyond the millennium.

The council also voted to hold a public forum on the future of the River Campus project. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Osage Community Centre.

Vision 2000 was established in 1987 to develop a strategic plan of community visions and goals. The new ordinance would, on Jan. 1, 2000, substitute the existing effort with Vision 2020.

"Little did we know back in 1987 the impact Vision 2000 would have on the city," said Councilman Melvin Gateley.

A final vote on the matter is expected at the council's Dec. 7 meeting.

The 16-member Vision 2000 Community Relations Council would also be retained, with the slight name change. The volunteer advisory board is appointed by the City Council.

Vision 2000 focuses on the four primary goals of fostering community spirit, improving education, promoting industry, business and jobs, and planning and zoning issues. Those efforts will continue.

To reach those goals, the group has been involved in issues ranging from planting projects to historical preservation to supporting ballot measures that foster improvements in a variety of areas.

Gateley said before the council session that holding public forums on myriad issues to gain input has been an important function of Vision 2000.

"We have to get citizens involved," Gateley said. "After all, the community and neighborhoods belong to the people. They should be the ones to support the community. The city staff should be the ones implementing the will of the people."

Concerning the River Campus forum, Mayor Al Spradling III said, "There are some potential matters that can be looked at, but they need to be brought up and discussed so we can see what the public thinks about it."

On Nov. 2, the council approved a cooperative agreement with Southeast Missouri State University to develop the River Campus at the site of the former St. Vincent's Seminary on Morgan Oak. However, the next day voters put the plan in limbo.

Voters approved an increase and extension of the city's hotel-motel tax and extension but no increase of the restaurant tax. They rejected a bond issue needed for the project. The bond needed 57.2 percent voter approval to pass but garnered only 53 percent, roughly the same as the tax measure.

Councilman Richard Eggiman said a false perception that the hotel tax increase would burden local residents, as opposed to primarily visitors, played a factor in the bond issue's defeat.

"We need to find out why it was perceived that this tax would affect everyone," Eggiman said.

Gateley said he heard from several voters who misunderstood the proposals as a property tax increase.

During the public forum, the council will seek ideas on funding mechanisms other than bonds for the project.

"People support the project," said Spradling," but they do not want to use general obligation bonds as the way to do it."

The council also tabled by a 6-1 vote an ordinance to grant a special-use permit for Ameritech to construct a cellular phone communications tower on city property at 2815 Perryville Road.

Three owners of property near the site voiced concerns at the meeting that the 140-foot-tall tower would be an eyesore and hurt property values. They were also upset that the city hadn't notified them about the project, which has been under consideration for some time.

The city, however, had taken all of the legally required steps to inform the public, City Manager Michael Miller said.

Douglas Paul, an Ameritech representative, said the tower would pose no threats to health or property and that its design exceeds safety requirements.

He said the delay in council approval will prevent the tower from being completed by the end of the year.

Several council members who voted for the delay -- only Spradling voted against it -- said they wanted to gather more information before making a decision.

The council will return to the topic at its next regular meeting.

Also, the council will meet at noon Wednesday in special session to vote on the issuance bonds for the water system improvement program.