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“wonderful smaller markets” would continue to fill a niche and would benefit from more activity. He averred that developers would not build housing and people would not move to the downtown area in any numbers unless there was a supermarket. He commented that for decades, large-scale food markets had been unwilling to take the risk and Whole Foods was the pioneer. He stressed that the City of Eugene built expensive public infrastructure like the well-used parking garages all of the time to support the development of outlying sites. He believed that in the downtown core parking garages were essential parts of public infrastructure as they were efficient, good investments that contribute to sustainable land use and promoted density. He did not think they were evil, nor did he think it should be assumed that such a structure would be ugly. He remarked that to paint the parking garage as a subsidy was to ignore that the parking would serve the public in the whole eastern downtown area. He added that if it attracted Whole Foods Grocery, then that was just good strategy. th George Brown , 60 West 17 Avenue, owner of the Kiva Market, said he had sold groceries, books, and wines for 35 years. He commented that thanks to his loyal customers, the store had survived economic bad times, achieved a modest livelihood, and had grown to become somewhat of a Eugene local institution. He surmised that everyone in the room cared very deeply about the city of Eugene and the health of downtown. He wanted to correct assumptions that he felt those who supported the project had about the opponents. He stressed that grocers and restaurateurs did not want Whole Foods Grocery to move in because it threatened their economic self-interest. He also stressed that Dan Giustina had a right to build a grocery store on his property because he had a right to further his own economic self-interest. He underscored that the small market owners were not anti-business, but wanted Eugene to grow and prosper, with modest, regulated growth fueled by sustainable, well-paid jobs. He commented that most people would love to see more well- planned housing, park space, offices, and retail, and possibly some non-polluting light manufacturing in the downtown area. He stated that the people were not opposed to spending $9 million if it was to be spent on public benefits. He believed the City should not spend $9 million to “subsidize a truly huge corporation that was in no need of any type of welfare or entitlements.” Lisa Warnes , 5020 Nectar Way, stated that it was the policy of the City Council to utilize public contracting practice and methods to maximize the efficient use of public resources and purchasing power of public funds. She opposed the no-bid contract process that had been proposed. She alleged that downtown had six parking garages that operated at only 53 percent of capacity during peak hours. She felt that many people remained unconvinced that another such garage was needed. She thought the process should have been started sooner given the timeline of the contract, proposed to be signed on June 1. She asserted that the money came from the tax dollars of the citizens of Eugene and they had a right to the process. She declared that the council was considering diverting $250,000 from the Stormwater Fund, $400,000 from the Riparian Fund, and $475,000 from the Library fund to help pay for the parking garage. She called it unethical to do so. She opposed the project. She submitted her testimony in writing. David Hinkley , 1350 Lawrence Street, #1, asserted that the proceeding was an improper and illegal use of the supplemental budget process. He averred that the State provided in ORS 294.480(1) five possible reasons to go into a supplemental budget. He did not believe the proceeding met the criteria. He asserted that the council and the Budget Committee had not put this item into the budget and called that “your failing.” He alleged that it should have been given that it was in plans that had been approved by the council in 2004. He did not see a pressing necessity for the parking garage. He opposed the no-bid contracting process as he did not believe it to be legal. Mark Gillem , 1206 University of Oregon, stated that he was teaching the Urban Design Studio at the University of Oregon, where his students were looking at alternatives to the parking garage. He thanked his MINUTES—Eugene City Council -- March 13, 2006 Page 15 City Council Meeting