Resident urges reallocating economic development retail-sales-tax funds from mannequin project to Olive Boulevard streetscape

During the consent-agenda public comment period, resident Frank Olendorf asked the council on Aug. 11 to amend the economic development retail sales tax budget by deleting a "mannequin event" and substituting $2.4 million to complete shaded, lighted sidewalks on Olive Boulevard from Skinker Boulevard to Interstate 170. Olendorf said the streetscape was a priority promised to voters more than 20 years earlier and argued voters expected the tax to fund that project first. Olendorf also raised a statutory concern, asserting the budgeted amount for administration and personnel exceeded the maximum allowed by state law for economic development retail sales tax (a 20% cap referenced in his comments). He asked council to substitute the streetscape project for the mannequin event and to ensure administrative costs comply with state limits. The consent agenda, which included the economic development retail sales tax budget item, passed by voice vote; council did not take action on Olendorf’s suggested amendment during the meeting. Council did not provide a detailed response on the record to the statutory compliance question at the meeting. Olendorf said the Third Ward had strongly supported the retail sales tax when it was proposed and asked that the council honor the original priority for Olive streetscape work.