The Cape Girardeau City Council wants to appoint a committee to review the city charter, but isn't sure yet who should serve on it or what provisions in the municipal government's rules should be reviewed.

For the second meeting in two weeks, council members discussed ways to initiate a charter review.

Under state law, a charter review commission could be elected by voters or appointed by the council. Council members said they would prefer to appoint an advisory committee that would recommend any charter changes.

Voters would have to approve any changes before they could be implemented, Mayor Jay Knudtson said.

The mayor said he wants to limit the scope of any review committee so it won't "tear apart" the charter that was adopted by voters in 1981.

"I do think you need to give them a starting point," he said.

Councilman Matt Hopkins suggested the committee could do its work in six months if the review is limited to only certain charter rules.

But Knudtson said the review process could take a year, particularly if the committee studies whether to scrap the system of electing council member by ward rather than at-large as has been suggested by some council members.

Another possible topic of review concerns the procedures for filling vacancies on the council. The city council had two vacant seats for several months until an election was held in April.

Charter restrictions on raising user fees also has been mentioned as a possible topic.

Councilwoman Loretta Schneider suggested that the council consider including lawyers on the review committee. But Knudtson said he sees no reason why lawyers need to be on the committee.

Councilman Charlie Herbst urged the council to include a representative from each ward on the review committee.

Knudtson suggested each council member submit two names of individuals for possible appointment.

But the council set no deadline for appointing the review committee.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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