By Tony Cantú
Contributing Writer

Olmos Park’s plan to raise the sales tax by a quarter of a percentage point was met with opposition by a prominent resident at the last City Council meeting. Additional discussion ranged from bicycle lanes and coyotes to a potential property tax freeze and traffic roundabout improvements.

During the citizens-to-be-heard portion of the meeting, former four-term council member Gene P. Allen, now serving on the city’s Board of Adjustments, spoke out against raising the local sales tax to 8.25 percent.

With an eye toward improving the McCullough-lined central business district, city officials hope to create an economic development corporation overseeing expenditures funded by an approximate $100,000 in extra cash raised annually from the quarter-cent increase.

“I don’t believe citizens are so committed to revitalization that they are willing to accept the risk of increased traffic, speed bumps and ‘No Parking’ signs,” Allen said. “We need to encourage improvement, but proceed cautiously.”

He cautioned against attracting more tenants operating at peak evening hours – such as the recently opened Valerio’s Restaurant north of the traffic roundabout, doing a brisk business in dinner hours – for fear of increased traffic. He also warned against further burdening taxpayers.

“Our present indebtedness has increased our taxes by nearly one-third,” he said, noting the city is paying down $7 million worth of debt over the next 14 years.

Mayor Ron Tefteller said two town meetings explaining the proposal – scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 28 – would be staged prior to a Nov. 4 election.

Other business included:

A report by Councilman Sean McNelis alerting installation of a lighted fountain at the McCullough traffic roundabout is now ahead of schedule for mid-October rather than month’s end. “In two weeks the city will get its fountain, in three weeks we’ve have the landscaping finished and in four weeks, we’ll have a dedication,” he said.

The go-ahead was given to wildlife experts toward mitigating the problem of coyote neighborhood incursions, including lethal means if needed. Residents have reported missing pets in the wake of increased coyote sightings. “They will work with our police department to determine the best course of action,” Tefteller said.

Council members also authorized staff to pursue a grant toward potentially creating a bicycle lane along McCullough, a project estimated to cost $25,000 but offset with the grant paying 80 percent of it.

A vote on a proposed freezing of property taxes for elderly and disabled homeowners was set for a May 9 election. City Attorney Marc Schnall confirmed a petition signed by residents met the required 5 percent of the electorate calling for a referendum, but would be placed on a May ballot rather than this November, because an earlier deadline to put it to a vote this year was missed.