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Irving Weiner, 88500 Greenhill Road, suggested it was ironic that the small businesses that funded LTD did not have their concerns heard. Instead, the City and LTD were turning a deaf ear. He said West 11 Avenue was a major car route that reached from eastern Oregon to the coast, which was why he located his business there. Businesses on West 11 th Avenue were there for the sake of the pass -by traffic. Mr. Weiner said it was hard for small businesses to stay competitive because of the Internet and large corporations who could afford to buy things in volume and sell them for much less. Local companies were able to stay in business because of good service and handy patron parking. Mr. Weiner said now LTD planned to take his parking spaces. While LTD said it would pay for them, he found its approach arrogant. LTD might consider his parking spaces just square footage but his parking places had an actual value for his business, and that was what LTD proposed to take away. Mr. Weiner believed that running EmX on West 11 Avenue would represent de facto rezoning. EmX construction would drive people away and by the time the system was built they would have changed their shopping patterns and the businesses now on West 11 Avenue would be gone. Bob Johnson, West 26 Avenue, opposed the proposed West Eugene EmX route. He said letters to the editor suggested that those in opposition to EmX were opposed to public transit, but that was not the case. He supported buses but he did not support EmX. Mr. Johnson did not think that EmX was the right approach. He thought EmX failed to meet the economic element of the triple bottom line (TBL). After examining the project's impact on small businesses, he understood why people were so opposed to it. Mr. Johnson was concerned about placing EmX vehicles in dedicated lanes and suggested LTD consider a more nimble and flexible public transportation system that could respond to changes was more rapidly. Wendy Butler Boyson, 1265 City View, expressed support for the proposed West Eugene EmX route. Speaking to the West 11 Avenue business owners, Ms. Butler Boyson informed them that they did not need cars to maintain their business, they needed people. She and other bus riders were consumers too, and if they spent their money it would be at some place they could reach using transit. Ms. Butler Boyson did not think that EmX had harmed businesses on Franklin Boulevard and said LTD could make swift changes in response to any concerns that arose. She was encouraged by the system's flexibility. She said the EmX buses were easier for her disabled husband to manage and she looked forward to its expansion to West 11 th Avenue. Speaking to Ms. Nixon's testimony about a parallel system, she suggested more frequent headways were the tradeoff for reduced stops. Robert Rubin, 2836 West 1 I 1 Avenue, said the project was the beginning of a multi -year siege on West 11 ` Avenue business owners. He termed EmX a flawed vision from 20 years ago. He did not think that West 11 Avenue could be compared to Franklin Boulevard. He believed the proposed solution solved nothing. He said the park and ride facility at Fred Meyer on Seneca Road was underused and had been since it was built. Mr. Rubin pointed out that West 11 Avenue was dominated by auto - related businesses and stores that sold large items that could not be carried on a bus. He questioned whether EmX on West 11 Avenue would eliminate any automobile traffic. He said LTD's plans called for fewer bus stops farther apart, which did not benefit riders. He said that LTD had budget problems and planned to reduce services further 20 -25 percent over the next three years. The West Eugene Em.X route was projected to cost $1 million to operate in the first year. The State would have to contribute $25 million or more. He was offended that LTD was spending money on buttons advocating for the EmX system. He said the alternatives analysis contained flawed data designed to influence people to think that the West 1 l /West 13 alternative was better than the no build option. MINUTES— Eugene City Council November 8, 2010 Page 2 Regular Meeting