Item 2A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

had recently endorsed housing standards. Ms. Ging noted that Wal-Mart proposed to institute radio-frequency identification in all products. She urged the council to visit the Web site www.stoprfid.com Patrick Costello, 474 Brookside Drive, said he was part-owner of an apartment complex in the Whiteaker area, and a survey of his tenants indicated many were low-income. He suggested that housing standards, if adopted, be applied to both owner-occupied and rental housing. He said he would merely pass the costs of such a program on to his tenants, and suggested that would disproportionately hurt the low-income people in the community who lived in such housing. Mr. Costello said that $8 did not sound like much to some, but to those on a fixed income paying more than half their income in rent, it was a lot. Dawn Balzano Peebles, 2715 Jefferson Street, reviewed statistics that indicated a high percentage of Wal-Mart employees were low-income and eligible for food stamps. She noted the high combined net worth of three of the Walton heirs, and the fact the company sought $10 million in tax subsidies from a Colorado community. She noted that Wal-Mart had advertised heavily as buying American but purchased $12 billion in merchandise from China in 2001. Ms. Peebles said that as a mother, she was concerned about her children's future. In addition, to have a modest retirement, she needed to save $5,000 and earn eight percent return on her savings every year until age 65 to retire. She asked how she could do that if she worked at Wal-Mart. Mayor Torrey closed the Public Forum and called on the council for comments. Mr. Kelly thanked all those who spoke during the Public Forum. Regarding the housing standards, he clarified that the fee contemplated per unit was $8 year, not $8 per month. He thought the Corvallis model worked and the City needed no further study. He appreciated the comments made about big box retail uses. He expressed interest in knowing more about what communities could legally do regarding standards for such uses that did not violate interstate commerce laws. He also wanted examples of communities that instituted community standards, as opposed to land use standards, as a condition for such uses to locate. Mr. Kelly thanked IATSE members for the first-class, fine work they did at the Hult Center and Cuthbert Amphitheatre. Mr. Kelly determined from City Manager Dennis Taylor that no work session on a parks bond measure had been scheduled. Mr. Taylor suggested a June work session could be scheduled for further discussion. Mr. Kelly wanted some statistically valid surveying on the topic. Mr. Kelly supported the proclamation sought by Mr. Kjaer and thanked the glass school for the good work it did. Ms. Taylor echoed the remarks of Mr. Kelly and thanked the members of the housing standards coalition for their efforts. Ms. Taylor noted the failure of a motion she had offered to the council to establish a moratorium on big box retail uses and asked those supporting the moratorium to be persistent. She also thanked those who provided information regarding the issue. MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 10, 2004 Page 6 Regular Meeting