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Carl Oslund , 28285 Spencer Creek Road, spoke in support of the Whole Foods Grocery and proposed parking structure. He said as a designer and consultant on a variety of projects, he had found the design- built format very effective. He supported the no-bid contract. He disagreed that Whole Foods Grocery would cause other businesses to fail. He underscored that Eugene would grow regardless of what happened with this issue and the question was whether the growth would occur in the core or at the perimeter. He thought one could “talk on and on” of the aesthetics of a parking structure, but personal transportation and food were both hallmark underpinnings of a vibrant economy. He said people would live near food. He predicted that the development would be a catalyst for the community. He thought instead that the presence of Whole Foods Grocery could raise the standards for other larger stores such as Safeway and Albertson’s. Charles Biggs , 540 Antelope Way, thought the need for the parking structure had not been made clear. He had not personally found any “sound evidence” to support the need. He opined that educational levies would be hurt by the deferred tax revenue. He predicted the project would deplete stormwater funds and this would require an increase in systems development charges (SDCs). He said urban renewal districts were formed to redistribute the “up-front costs of development” over a 20-year timeframe and should not be used to subsidize “as much development as possible” with taxpayers’ money. It was his understanding that the Riverfront Urban Renewal District had depreciated in value since its formation and had “not performed even to conservative expectations.” He submitted his testimony in writing and reiterated his earlier request, made during the Public Forum. th Kim Buchanan , 85 West 24 Place, spoke on behalf of Dan Lundberg. She read a statement from Mr. Lundberg which related his experience studying traffic-calming and car-free centers. She said he found that in Europe, traffic congestion had been reduced by increasing parking fees and reducing parking places. His statement also asserted that Los Angeles traffic engineers found that reducing the freeway by one lane reduced traffic congestion. Mr. Lundberg thought the earth’s climate was “spinning out of control.” She said his main message was that projects such as a parking structure should not be built because peak oil production had been reached and money should not be spent on building infrastructure for petroleum-using vehicles. Paul Moore , 2586 Potter Street, said area transportation planning called for shorter automobile trips and nodal development. He read Whole Foods Grocery siting requirements aloud. He said the store was not intended to serve downtown Eugene residents. He averred that it was a 52,000-square-foot destination store, designed to bring a large volume of automobile traffic to the downtown from a wide area. He thought the store would work against all efforts to increase the use of public transportation because it would encourage grocery shopping after work using single-occupant vehicles. He thought shopping should be within walking distance and supported the idea of urban villages. Mayor Piercy called for a five-minute break. She reconvened the meeting at 11:07 p.m. Councilor Solomon left the meeting. Hope Marston , PO Box 51434, urged the council not to be afraid to pass up what appeared to be an opportunity. She felt it was an opportunity that came with “too many red flags.” She opposed the no-bid contract. She did not believe a parking structure qualified as something that was for the public good. She called the proposal “a slap in the face” to local grocers and people who had built businesses and provided services for many years. She also felt the proposal would jeopardize other public enterprises such as the library. She preferred the types of projects that the students of architecture had brought forth. She thought MINUTES—Eugene City Council -- March 13, 2006 Page 23 City Council Meeting