Cape City Council to vote on contract for sports complex

An agreement about a new indoor sports complex will be up for vote Tuesday by the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Because of the Labor Day holiday and other events, the council is holding its first meeting of the month on the first Tuesday rather than the first Monday and its second meeting Sept. 14.

With council approval, the city manager would be authorized to execute a development agreement with Midamerica Hotels Corp. for the design and construction of an indoor sports complex. Midamerica was selected by the council in June as the development team to partner with the city on a site and structure for the facility, which has been selected as the next project to be funded by the city's 1 percent restaurant tax.

As part of the agreement, Midamerica donated 10.27 acres to the city for the facility at the northeast corner of Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 in the area known as Center Junction. An adjoining 19.12 acres could be acquired by the city by purchase or exchange for property owned by the city.

The agreement up for council consideration Tuesday stipulates Midamerica shall provide the cost of the additional acreage to the city no later than Sept. 15, and the city must make a final determination on the additional acreage transaction no later than Oct. 19. If the city decides it is interested in additional acreage, it will enter into another agreement with Midamerica.

Access also is briefly addressed in the agreement. It says the sports facility, once finished, will be accessed via Limbaugh Lane.

"A future traffic signal may be warranted at Limbaugh Lane and Highway 61," the development agreement states. "The city will work with MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) for approval of the new signal location. The cost of any future signal shall be discussed at a future date along with possible funding sources."

After council approval and the execution of the agreement, the city can move forward and enter into negotiations for an agreement for professional and construction services with Midamerica and Penzel Construction to design and build the facility.

Other business

Before any voting occurs, the council will hear a presentation from city staff on Cape Girardeau's fence regulations. Councilman Mark Lanzotti had asked staff to take a closer look at the regulations to determine whether there was a need for updates or clarifications after a resident in his ward came to him with questions and concerns about a neighbor's fence.

The regulations apply to all fences over 3 feet tall. A fence permit is required for new fences and fence replacements exceeding 30 percent of the existing fence. Factors such as height, allowed materials and placement of certain types of fences depend on the property's use. The city code does not give staff the authority to review fences for aesthetics.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.