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Eugene Hilton Hotel. Mr. Miller criticized the council's decision to sell the library for "only" $1.2 million. Eugene Enge, 2021 West 26th Place, representing the Eugene Opera, discussed the economic benefits of Eugene's resident companies. He said the companies provided employment and purchase locally. Through grants, dollars were imported into the community. Without the companies, he said, the community would not be as economically viable in attracting new businesses. He was personally aware of one company that chose to remain in Eugene because of its president's interest in the arts. Prices were affordable. He expressed disappointment with rising costs and reduced services, such as the decreased Hult Center box office hours. Jill Schwab, 90 East 40th Avenue, expressed hope the council would limit big box retail stores in Eugene. She called for a moratorium on retail businesses over 50,000 square feet. She said such establishments hurt the community economically. Communities are worse off when chain stores dominate their economies. Local businesses keep dollars in the community and support local employment. Ms. Schwab said studies show big box retail uses consume as much in taxes as they generate. She hoped that during the council's upcoming work session, it would consider the ordinances passed by other jurisdictions, which included limits on size, design review, and limits on uses. She asked the council to consider ways to support local businesses. John VanLandingham, 335 North Grand Street, identified himself an affordable housing advocate and Legal Services lawyer specializing in landlord-tenant law. He thanked the council for its support for affordable housing. He discussed the housing standards issue. Mr. VanLandingham said that 20 years ago he chaired the City Joint Housing Committee and had testified in favor of repealing the housing code with the understanding the council would return with a better housing code when the vacancy rate had declined. He said the State had four remedies to enforce the State's housing code but none were as good as the enforcement mechanism the council was being asked to consider. Mr. VanLandingham believed the City had an interest in protecting the health and safety of tenants as well as an interest in protecting the appearance of neighborhoods. He briefly reviewed the remedies available through the State. Sara Craemer, 1000 Patterson Street, representing Eugene Citizens for Housing Standards, briefly noted the coalition's partners. Many others were in the process of joining. She asked the council to prioritize the issue of rental housing and establish a housing standards ordinance that protected renters, who constituted a third of the community's residents. She asked for local enforcement of State laws. Ms. Craemer suggested the City's ordinance cover structural integrity, weatherproofing, heating, and plumbing. Debra McGee, 29755 Lusk Road, asked why Wal-Mart had the right to expand and the community had no right to stop it. She asked if developers' money spoke more loudly than the voice of citizens. She did not know if citizens would support allowing Wal-Mart to expand, but she thought it should be put to a vote of the elected officials. She supported Ms. Taylor's motion to place a six-month moratorium on such developments, saying it would provide time for real community debate. Michelle Loew, 1545 Bogart Lane, said she left her previous residence because she was given notice for complaining about a nonfunctioning toilet. When she called to let her landlord know the toilet was not functioning, the landlord was not responsive about when it would be fixed. She had gone without a toilet intermittently. When she won an argument with her property owner about the necessity of having a toilet, MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 10, 2004 Page 2 Regular Meeting