CITY ZONES VOTE GIVEN FIRST NOD

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday gave first-round approval to a law that sets Aug. 3 as the date voters will again consider city charter amendments to implement ward representation.

The charter amendments were recommended by the city's Zone Election Committee, appointed to define an ill-crafted measure voters approved last November. In that election, Cape Girardeau citizens voted to scrap at-large council elections in lieu of ward representation.

Under the plan, one council member will be elected from each ward, with the mayor elected at large. All will serve four-year terms.

The council Monday unanimously approved the committee's recommendations.

Howard Tooke, former city mayor and chairman of the committee, called the council's approval "outstanding."

He said the group had three primary goals: To develop a plan that was legally defensible; to divide the city into six wards that were as homogeneous as possible in terms of population; and to ensure that the three council members whose terms expire in 1996 were placed in separate wards.

"Our aim in deed was to neither expand nor delete what the voters approved," Tooke said. "We simply tried to define it."

Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem David Limbaugh thanked the committee for its work in what he called "bailing everyone out of a quagmire."

When voters initially approved the measure, which was prompted by a petition initiative, City Attorney Warren Wells complained that the ward boundaries as drawn likely were unconstitutional.

The committee was formed to resolve that issue and redraw the boundaries varying as little from the approved measure as possible for a new proposal to be resubmitted to voters.

The committee also clarified other issues that pertained to ward elections and the city charter.

If approved by voters Aug. 3, the amended charter would provide for election next April of a council member from each of three new districts: Wards 1, 2 and 6. In April 1996, voters would elect council members for Wards 3, 4 and 5.

The wards as drawn have a maximum variation in population of about one-half of a percent.

The number of persons in Ward 1, on the city's northeast side, is 5,780; Ward 2, on the city's south and southeast sides, 5,772; Ward 3, in the central part of the city, 5,777; Ward 4, in northern and northwest Cape Girardeau, 5,772; Ward 5, in the city's north-central and west-central side, 5,778; and Ward 6, in the extreme west side of town, 5,750.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to inform the mayor of Shaoxing, China, that Cape Girardeau will pursue sister-city trade status with the Chinese city.

Cape Girardeau businessman Peter Choi, a native of Shaoxing, requested the agreement. He said there are at least two Chinese firms interested in moving operations to Cape Girardeau if a trading agreement is reached.

Choi said Monday the proposal also would help bring many Chinese students to Southeast Missouri State University here.

In other action, the council:

20Gave first reading to a law that sets a special election Aug. 3 on the proposed annexation of Twin Lakes Subdivision, situated west of the city limits off Hopper Road.

Presented a plaque to Jerry McClanahan in appreciation for his service on the city's Airport Advisory Board from 1978-1993.

Gave first reading to a law to appropriate from the budget $165,000 for purchase of park land, $54,000 for the Parks and Recreation Department, $48,000 for public safety, and $134,000 for the Public Works Department.

20Gave first reading to a law adopting the annual city operating budget and establishing fees and charges for solid-waste disposal and sewage services.

Approved a resolution to authorize an agreement for the city's workers' compensation self-insurance services with the firm of Arthur J. Gallagher of St. Louis. The agreement is expected to save the city up to $200,000 on insurance premiums.

Approved a resolution to authorize a contract with Reli Electric for Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport airfield signage.

20Denied a request from Lowe's Companies Inc. for a variance from the city's subdivision standards. The variance was for the width of the access street to the new Lowe's Store.