Ward meetings continue; insight from previous meetings

We have been meeting this past month with our residents at ward meetings across the city. The council and I have appreciated meeting some old friends and also new faces. Our residents and partners have not come out in big numbers, but those who attended and taken part have given us a great insight into their world and how city services impact them. We've heard praise and we've heard criticism, but it has all been cordial and productive.

Citizens have brought up a variety of topics ranging from the need for an ADA compliant and accessible City Hall to homelessness, to glass recycling and other topics. Here are some of the key subjects we have discussed to date. (Note: Wards 5 and 6 scheduled for tonight and Thursday night.)

Streets

We've heard from many of you that our streets are in bad shape. We hear you, we drive those same streets and we're doing everything we can to make them better, but it will continue to take time. When we planned for the fifth Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), we knew we had to focus on renovation and maintenance more than we ever have in the past. With permission from voters, we've repurposed funding from a TTF3 project approved in 2005, to meet more neighborhood street repair needs. We've posted the maps online of each these projects scheduled for each year through 2020.

Jobs & retail

Economic development has been another big focus of ours as it has been for many of you. Our West Park Mall is a concern of many, as malls nationwide have been falling out of favor with consumers. There are also concerns about the lack of retail in the southern part of our city. We've enlisted the expertise of a national retail recruitment consultant to work with us through our local economic development partner MAGNET to bring new wanted retail businesses to our city. We will also soon review an updated downtown strategic plan looking for potential retail, commercial and residential development.

Community & neighborhoods

Our citizens have brought a strong concern and willpower to improve and strengthen their neighborhoods. We had input on safety, cleanliness, providing safe adequate housing and a concern to care for the homeless in our community. We are partnering with Purpose Built Communities out of Atlanta to bring their life-changing, holistic focus on wellness, mixed-income housing, and education to our southern neighborhoods. We are in the very beginning of this concept which has the potential of major improvements over the next decade.

Communication & engagement

It was encouraging to hear how many of our residents want to get involved and want to learn more about their city. All of our departments are now using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, NextDoor, YouTube and Instagram. They are using blogs, emails and news releases to keep you informed. I encourage our residents to use our website and social media to ask questions and report issues. All of our facilities from the new Wastewater Treatment Facility to our fire stations welcome small groups for personal tours and I encourage you to contact us to come take a look at your tax dollars and public servants hard at work for you.

Next steps

I encourage and urge any of our citizens to attend and communicate with their elected representatives and city staff at the two remaining ward meetings regardless of which ward you live in.

These meetings will be held as follows:

Ward 5 Osage Center 6 p.m. today

Ward 6 Lutheran Home 6 p.m. Thursday

If you cannot make either meeting, please take the online survey at cityofcape.org/councilplan or call (573) 339-6320. Your opinions and insights are very important to us. We will make every voice count as part of the City Council Strategic Plan update in 2017. We will meet in April as a council to discuss a path forward. I thank each of you for your interest in our great City of Cape Girardeau.

Harry E. Rediger is the mayor of Cape Girardeau.