City council begins process to repeal Green Advisory Board

The Cape Girardeau City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to repeal the Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board.

The board was approved by the council in 2009 to study city operations from an environmental point of view and offer guidance or make recommendations.

During its lifetime, the board has worked with city staff to implement more efficient techniques and technologies, such as the use of LEDs, and promote environmentally friendly moves, including additional bicycle lanes along city streets.

Recently, members of Girardeau Goes Green have proposed adjusting the groups charter to allow for more input in decisions such as bidding and construction projects, but neither council nor staff felt comfortable with the change. They instead proposed the group shift to a community organization rather than a city advisory board.

Mayor Harry Rediger said the council and staff appreciate the work the board has done since its inception, "many things" were accomplished in that time and deciding to repeal the board was not an easy decision.

"But we feel, the council feels, as far as with city staff, [the board] has run its course," he said. "We would like you to stay together to advocate to our citizens and even to us, but as a nonprofit."

The ordinance given initial approval by the council Monday night includes a provision offering assistance to the group from city staff to establish a not-for-profit corporation and obtain state and federal tax-exempt status.

Steve Maldonado has been involved with Girardeau Goes Green since its early years and told the council the group has not had much time to consider the offer.

"That's something we have had very limited time to discuss," he said. "We've only known about this for about one week that this was a possibility or this was the direction the council was going."

He said the group was hoping to continue negotiations with the city on the Girardeau Goes Green charter updates. The suggestions were submitted with the "full understanding" adjustments and compromises might be made, Maldonado said, but members never received feedback.

Councilwoman Loretta Schneider also praised the efforts of the board over the years and suggested members consider the benefits of reforming into a committee. She's involved in the Keep Cape Beautiful Committee, which she said enjoys a good relationship with the city, and believes the Girardeau Goes Green group would have similar success.

Schneider and Councilman Mark Lanzotti were on the council when it first voted to form the board. He said he's had some questions about the board's establishment from the beginning and thought the group should be a committee.

"That, to me, is the right moniker or designation," Lanzotti said. "And I don't know that 'board' was ever the right moniker, and for that matter I voted against it in the very beginning."

But Lanzotti also said he would like to see the group continue in the community. Just as Keep Cape Beautiful recognizes a business each month with its Beautiful Business Property of the Month award, he said the group could engage with the community by offering a monthly award to groups or people implementing the kind of efficiency measures they support.

The final reading of the ordinance to repeal the board will be at the next council meeting Dec. 7.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.