(FORMERLY OPPOSE WAL-MART) UPDATE

May 12, 2010

Contact us at info@opposewalmart.com or go to

opposewalmart.com or saveatascadero.com

(Please notify us of email address changes)

Editor:  Lee Perkins

TO VIEW PAST SAVE ATASCADERO UPDATES, PLEASE

GO TO saveatascadero WEBSITE

1. WAL-MART OPEN HOUSE AT ATASCADERO CITY HALL 5/5/10
2. SCOPING FOR WAL-MART/ANNEX EIR (Environmental Impact Report), TUESDAY, MAY 25 AT 6:00 P. M.
3. GENERAL PLAN INFORMATION

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1. WAL-MART OPEN HOUSE AT ATASCADERO CITY HALL

THE CITY OF ATASCADERO SPONSORED A WAL-MART/ANNEX OPEN HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY MAY 5 AT THE CITY HALL.

• Wal-Mart’s architectural plan has changed completely along with its size, now down to 123,112 sq ft.  Smaller is better, but we believe this store is still too big for our City.  The new architectural plan, a sequence of boxes, does not reflect a Colony Style or conform to the General Plan as written:

“Programs:

1. Update and maintain the Appearance Review Manual to include provisions for rural

character design features, street trees, landscaping, parking, fencing, screening, and

architectural design (except for single family development), with standards tailored to

specific areas of the City, including commercial corridors, and gateways such as

Highway 101 and Morro Road.”

1. SCOPING MEETING FOR WAL-MART/ANNEX EIR, TUESDAY, MAY 25 AT 6:00 P. M.

Mark your calendars to attend the City Council and the Planning Commission joint EIR scoping session on Tuesday, May 25 at 6:00 p.m. at the City Hall.  THIS IS A CRITICAL MEETING!

Re scoping:  “a scope will be proposed based on public input and the CC’s observations, which outlines what needs to be studied during the EIR.  Traffic, biology and environmental assessment such as noise, light pollution and aesthetics are typical.  There can also be a Retail Sector Strategies Report to assess the Town’s retail sector and recommend measures to proactively preserve and promote economic vitality and growth within the City.  The public needs to raise the issues and any others that are important to them or it will not be addressed in the EIR.

Discussion regarding the Wal-Mart/Annex project has gone on for several years and many concerns over the years have been expressed at the lectern.  The scoping process is like starting over.  Any concerns residents of the City and neighbors have to the development must be expressed during the scoping process meeting May 25 to be considered in the EIR.

Come and speak if you have concerns about:

• Traffic, noise, glare, hazardous dumping
• Night time deliveries, idling big rigs
• Security issues, crime, funding of emergency services and police
• Economic impact to our local stores and sustainability of local grocers and their jobs

EACH PERSON WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK–MAKE THE MOST OF IT! Use your time to outline what needs to be examined during this EIR process.

The City Council must approve the EIR scoping process.  Only you can express your individual or neighborhood concerns at this meeting.  Organize your neighbors!  If you believe someone else will voice an issue, that issue may not be brought up.  The CC majority is way in favor of the project at all costs, but they must hear from you as a voter about how you want this project to go forward and must be held accountable to deal with the findings, rather than dismissing them for “overriding economic considerations” which the CEQA law allows.

This is our City and this development will affect all residents directly or indirectly.

1. GENERAL PLAN INFORMATION

I recommend to all of you to go to the City website and take a look at the General Plan.  In light of the recent tabling of the Request for Participation in a State Grant Application:  Small cities of San Luis Obispo County Climate Action Plan which would help guide us to a “sustainable” city and which the state is paying the tab.  It is an impressive document which took years of citizen input that IS AN OFFICIAL guide and sets criteria for growth, environmental issues and safety in our town.

I have copied a few statements from the General Plan for your perusal, but suggest you take a look yourself.  We need to hold our CC accountability to its General Plan.

2. Require landscaping and/or screening to buffer non-residential uses from residential areas.

3. Continue to support the Neighborhood Preservation Program.

4. Update and maintain the Sign Ordinance with higher standards for the quality and visual impact of signs.

5. Develop incentives to encourage existing uses to upgrade to contemporary design

standards, including frontage and parking lot landscaping, and the screening of loading and service areas.

Policy 1.4:  Ensure that “darkness” remain a rural characteristic by requiring that all exterior

lighting does not result in significant off-site spillage or glare.

Goal LOC 7. Tree-covered hills shall be preserved to retain the distinctive scenic quality of the community.

Policy 7.1: Ensure that the native trees of Atascadero are protected from new development in

order to retain the natural character of the community.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW THAT AS CITIZENS, WE NEED TO SPEAK TO!

SAVE ATASCADERO

(FORMERLY OPPOSE WAL-MART) UPDATE

APRIL 28, 2010

Contact us at info@opposewalmart.com or go to

opposewalmart.com or saveatascadero.com

(Please notify us of email address changes)

Editor:  Lee Perkins

TO VIEW PAST SAVE ATASCADERO UPDATES, PLEASE

GO TO saveatascadero WEBSITE

1. SAVE ATASCADERO SUPPORTS AND JOINS WITH FOOD BANK FOR ANOTHER FOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED FOR SAT. APRIL 17 AT FOOD FOR LESS.

1. HERE COMES WAL-MART—

1. 1. WAL-MART/ROTTMAN SUBMIT FINAL PLANS
   2. WAL-MART OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5/EIR public Scoping

May 25

1. 1. BIAS SUIT ADVANCES AGAINST WAL-MART
   2. LETTER TO THE EDITOR

1. MENTAL HEALTH FORUM IN ATASCADERO, SUNDAY, MAY 16

1. SECOND ANNUAL HUNGER WALK IN ATASCADERO SUNDAY SEPT. 26

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1. SAVE ATASCADERO SUPPORTS AND JOINS WITH FOOD BANK FOR ANOTHER FOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED FOR SAT. APRIL 17 AT FOOD FOR LESS.

Thank you to Food for Less and all who volunteered from the Atascadero Democratic club and Save Atascadero to staff the table at the entrance of Food for Less Saturday, April 17 and to all of you who donated food.  We collected over 840 pounds of food for the North County Food Bank.

1. HERE COMES WAL-MART—

1. 1. WAL-MART/ROTTMAN SUBMIT FINAL PLANS

Wal-Mart’s application has been revised and now proposes a 123,112± square foot commercial retail and grocery building and outdoor garden center of 6,448± square feet store which includes the following:

• General Merchandise Sales Area 63,506± square feet
• Grocery Sales and Support Area 27,894± square feet
• Retail Tenant Space 1,934± square feet
• Stock and Ancillary Area 25,550± square feet
• Pharmacy 759± square feet
• Indoor Garden/Seasonal sales 3,469± square feet

The store includes a pharmacy (not drive-thru) and drive-up “site to store” pick-up on a 19.0± acre site with a 697± space parking lot (refer to attached exhibits). The tire & lube express is no longer proposed as part of the project. The Walmart project also includes 2.0± acres of retail outpads and a 2.8± acre multi-family residential pad on the southern end of the site. The total Walmart project area is 26.1± acres.

The Wal-Mart and the Rottman Group project proposals will be processed under a single Specific Plan and environmental impact report (EIR). The City Council has selected Michael Brandman Associates to prepare the EIR. City of Atascadero Website

The Annex component, 120,900 sq ft of commercial uses includes eating and drinking places (including drive-though eating and drinking places).  So Atascadero will have even more drive-throughs.  Oh, for some nice family style restaurants!

1. WAL-MART OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5

The City of Atascadero has scheduled a Wal-Mart Open House for Wed., May 5 at the Atascadero City Hall, Conference Room 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Notice how dramatically the architectual rendering of the final project for Wal-Mart has changed from the Just Listening Open House in  2006. The Wal-Mart supercenter now is simply a sequence of boxes rather than the Colony style architecture originally proposed.

The first Wal-Mart EIR public scoping meeting is tentatively set for May 25.  I tried to get information on this today from City Hall, but have not heard back from Warren Frace’s office on any further details or confirmation.

NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF UPCOMING WAL-MART MEETINGS, SCOPING, ETC., CALL ANNETTE AT CITY HALL AT 470-3402 and request mail notification.  If she does not answer, leave a message of your information.

1. BIAS SUIT ADVANCES AGAINST WAL-MART – April 27, 2010, Wall Street Journal, front Page. A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a gender discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. can go forward as a class-ation case, in the largest such action in U.S. history.  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco voted 6-5 to affirm a federal judge’s decision to award class-action status to potentially one million women or more.  The ruling increases the pressure on Wal-Mart to either settle claims of unfair pay brought by the women or risk going to trial…  (For the complete article, see Wall Street Journal)

D. LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Atascadero News, April 21, 2010

This letter is in response to Robert Winslow’s letter in the Atascadero News Wednesday, April 14, in response to my letter regarding the La Plaza Cinemas.

I stand corrected, Robert Winslow as he states, no longer works for EDA, but, as he states, is the engineer for the Rottman’s adjourning project at the Annex.  While Rottman and Wal-Mart are separate entities, they are unified under the same EIR and Special Plan.  I see them as joined at the hip.

However, I stand by my words that Mr. Winslow spoke often at City Council meetings touting Wal-Mart/Rottman’s proposed development at Del Rio disregarding the General Plan.  And, ironically, he suggested that La Plaza Cinemas potentially had problems in relation to the General Plan, has traffic issues  and is in need of an EIR (Environmental Impact Report).  The city has criteria to guide them as to whether the La Plaza needs an EIR, etc. or not.  In the past these issues were downplayed by Wal-Mart and its representatives regarding the Annex project.

Slander is a very strong word and I hardly see it as slander to associate Mr. Winslow with Wal-Mart when he was one of their visible representatives until January of 2010.

I attended over two years of Atascadero City Council Meetings while the Wal-Mart issue was before the City and became aware that, in the past, not all contractors were treated equally by the City.  Such mixed messages of unequal treatment were a problem in the past and if the same exists now, are a problem as well.  All contractor/developers must be held accountable to the same rules and regulations the City has on the books.  I cannot speak for the La Plaza Cinema project process.  However, no project, if it meets CEQA obligations can circumvent any steps as required by law in this process.

Editor  Note:  Although Lee Perkins had a letter published less than a month ago, this response is being printed because in Robert Winslow’s letter, he accused her of libel.  Libel is when defamatory remarks are made in print and slander is when defamatory remarks are spoken aloud.

(THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS OF MY LETTER WERE NOT PRINTED IN THE A NEWS DUE TO SPACE)

I do remember that the City bent over backwards to support the Colony Square Project.  And, It is common knowledge that permits approved for this project sat in City Hall ready to be acted on for almost a year.

As far as supporting either the Colony Square and/or La Plaza.  I support both and eagerly await the Colony Square completion!!!  Being supportive of La Plaza and Colony Square supports Atascadero downtown and will increase the City’s attractiveness for all residents, countywide visitors and tourists.

Lee Perkins

1. MENTAL HEALTH FORUM IN ATASCADERO, SUNDAY, MAY 16

A Mental Health Forum A Journey of Hope and Recovery, will be presented at the Atascadero Community Church Fellowship Hall, 5850 Rosario Ave., on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

Featured: the Acclaimed Documentary “The Shaken Tree:  Families Living with Mental Illness

This is free and open to the public.  The Program includes:

Transitions Mental Health Association-Family Services

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

For more information call:  805-466-9108

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.

1. SECOND ANNUAL HUNGER WALK IN ATASCADERO SUNDAY SEPT. 26

Mark your calendars, walk, volunteer, get your clubs/organizations involved!

Join the Food Bank Coalition

and Central Coast Clergy & Laity for Justice in our 2010

Hunger Walk Sunday, September 26th, 2:00 pm

You and your group can help

fight hunger in SLO County

Participating Communities

Arroyo Grande      Atascadero      Cambria     Cayucos

Los Osos     Morro Bay     Nipomo    Oceano

Paso Robles     San Luis Obispo     San Miguel

How It Works:

TheFoodBankCoalition

•Your organization signs up walkers

Online sign up is available

•Walkers recruit sponsors to donate

•Donations are shared this way:

•50%to the walker’s agency

•25% to the Food Bank

•25% to Church World Service

•Fight hunger at home and worldwide!

For more information call: 805-238-4664www.slofoodbank.org

75% of the funds raised by our Hunger Walk will stay right here in San Luis Obispo County.

Sent: Fri 2/12/10 7:36 PM FEBRUARY 10, 2010 | ANALYSIS

Small Business Lending: Big Banks vs. Small

Although small and mid-sized banks control only 22 percent of bank assets, they account for 54 percent of all small business lending. Meanwhile, the largest 20 banks, which command 57 percent of bank assets, devote only 18 percent of their commercial loan portfolios to small business.

This article examines why small banks lend more to small businesses, how banking consolidation has harmed local entrepreneurs, and what can be done to get credit flowing in a recession. READ THE ARTICLE

Charts: Small Business Lending by Bank Size

FEBRUARY 12, 2010 | NEWS
New Rules Project Launches Community Banking Initiative

Our new Community Banking Initiative is building the case for a smaller-scale and more locally rooted financial system. We’ll be posting a growing body of reports, articles, and policy models.

We’re also, through a partnership with the Move Your Money campaign, blogging at Huffington Post about the benefits of going local with your banking. See this recent piece:
Move Your Borrowing Along with Your Money
We’d love to hear your feedback.

FEBRUARY 1, 2010 | OPINION
The Case for Online Sales Taxes

By exempting internet retailers like Amazon.com from collecting sales taxes, lawmakers provide a substantial financial incentive for people to bypass local businesses and shop online instead.

Over the years, there have been four primary arguments made in favor of this inequitable policy. None of them stand up. READ MORE

JANUARY 29, 2010 | NEWS
Wal-Mart’s Urban Impact

Wal-Mart insists that it’s urban stores can reinvigorate city neighborhoods and recapture retail spending leaking to the suburbs. But a new study by Loyola University researchers, who tracked the impact of a Wal-Mart store that opened in Chicago in 2006, found otherwise. Within two years, 25 percent of the businesses within a four-mile radius of the store had closed. For more, visit our Key Studies page.

JANUARY 14, 2010 | NEWS
Holiday Sales Increase at Independent Businesses, National Survey Finds

More holiday shoppers deliberately sought out locally owned businesses this year, according to our survey of more than 1,800 independent businesses. The survey also found that local retailers in cities with active “Buy Local” or “Think Local First” campaigns reported stronger holiday sales than those in cities without such campaigns. READ MORE.

DECEMBER 2, 2009 | SPEECH
A New Deal for Local Economies

This lecture, delivered at the Bristol Schumacher Conference in Great Britain, has been republished in a variety of places in the last month. If you missed it, you can read it online or download a printer-friendly PDF.

Other Hometown Advantage Headlines

Big-Box Lifestyle Center Defeated in Colorado
Voters in Eagle, Colorado, soundly defeated a proposed big-box lifestyle center yesterday in an election that saw the highest turnout in town history.

News Stories We’re Following

A plan to turn a former armory in the Bronx into a shopping mall was soundly defeated after independent retailers, labor unions, and community groups joined forces to block it.
Massachusetts may become the first state to mandate that independent auto repair shops have access to the same repair codes and data dealerships are given. Federal legislation is in the works as well.
Office Depot’s new television ad brings a new twist to local-washing.
More cities are demanding that corporations, including big retailers, repay subsidies when they fall short of their job creation promises.
Sam’s Club is laying off 11,000 workers and closing 10 stores.
A large electronics retailer in New Mexico has returned to local ownership after the company that bought it went bankrupt.
Dan Lutts shares ten lessons he learned living unchained for a year.
A new economic development model of integrated worker-owned enterprises is building momentum in Cleveland.
Bills to extend sales tax to large online retailers are moving forward in Virginia and Colorado.
Bills to close a state tax loophole that benefits big chains are under consideration in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and New Mexico.
Photographer Brian Ulrich has focused his lens on the nation’s growing abundance of dark stores.
CVS is manipulating insurance coverage to steer consumers away from independent pharmacies, according to allegations under investigation by the FTC.
Book publisher Macmillan challenged Amazon’s control of e-book pricing as part of a larger war over the book industry’s future. Read reactions from Shelf Awareness, the Authors Guild, Bill Petrocelli, and Fast Company.
Wal-Mart has created a fake community group to push for a second supercenter in the city of Chicago.

SAVE ATASCADERO

(FORMERLY OPPOSE WAL-MART) UPDATE

February 4, 2010

Contact us at info@opposewalmart.com or go to

opposewalmart.com or saveatascadero.com

(Please notify us of email address changes)

Editor:  Lee Perkins

1. PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING A MARCH FOR HEALTH CARE AND JOBS FOR ALL
2. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE A SUCCESS IN ATASCADERO
3. COPENHAGEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE DEC 09:  IMPRESSIONS FROM TWO STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED AT LAKE PAVILION, WED., 2/10

I. PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING:

HEALTH CARE REFOM AND JOBS NOW–GET THE JOB DONE!

On February 17th, we’re going to join healthcareforamerica.org  rallying all over the country to demand Congress deliver the change we voted for. We need you to join us. COME TO SLO FOR THE MARCH to DEMAND HEALTH CARE AND JOBS FOR ALL.

In 2008, people from all over the country, all walks of life, all ages and races, voted for change.  So we’re taking it to the streets Wednesday, February 17th. WE ARE going to be big and our voices loud. We’re going to stand together and send an unmistakable message to Congress that they must deliver HEALTH CARE REFORM AND JOBS NOW–finish the job!

We need your help with this march by getting the word out and come with signs. MORE DETAILS–time, start location–ABOUT LOCAL MARCH IN SLO AS SOON AS WE HAVE THEM.

II. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE A SUCCESS IN ATASCADERO – A NEWS LETTER TO THE EDITOR

January 20, 2010

Atascadero Day of Service

This last weekend was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and tribute to the man.  There were three teams in Atascadero who collaborated with Central Coast United for Change (CCUC) and the Food Bank with a food drive to restore the shelves of the County Food Banks after the depletion of the holiday season.

Special thanks go to the Community Church of Atascadero who offered their hall as a collection site along with donations from their congregation donated to the Atascadero Loaves and Fishes.  Midori Feldman was a CCUC captain who organized an area of house to house pickup of food and our team–The Atascadero Democratic Club (ADC), Save Atascadero and SLO Medical Alliance.

Food for Less in Atascadero made our team’s efforts a success by generously supporting the food collection by allowing us to use their front door Saturday,

January 16, to receive food and cash donations.  We were tremendously successful collecting over 997 lbs of food and close to $200 in cash which buys 2000 lbs of food. In all our collection at Food for Less will provide 2250 meals.

And special thanks to the residents of Atascadero who were volunteers in the food drive and/or donated food so our neighbors will not go hungry.  We made the best of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s day of service to our community.

Lee Perkins, Community Outreach, ADC and Save Atascadero

1. COPENHAGEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE:  IMPRESSIONS FROM TWO STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED DEC 09

Copenhagen and Climate Change:

Two Local Student’s Eye-Witness Impressions

Last December, leaders from nearly 200 nations of the world gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, to discuss how to address Climate Change. A large number of young people from many countries participated. What message do they have for the world?

Join us Wednesday evening Feb. 10th at the Atascadero Lake Pavilion. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the program starts promptly at 7 PM in the Sarah Grondstrom room, seating is limited.

Atascadero resident and Templeton High Junior  Kayla Clark and Cal Poly Senior Michael Symmes will report on their first-hand experiences at  the UN Global Climate Summit in Copenhagen.

Preceding their presentations, Dr. Ray Weymann will provide a non-technical summary of climate science: What are the scientists who are doing climate research finding out, and why is it important?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/130606462?z00m=19811964

SMALLER IS BETTER, BUT STILL WRONG SIZE: POLICIES and IMPACTS THE SAME

Wal-Mart’s announcement that it will be submitting plans for a “smaller” store in Atascadero, (still the size of two football fields plus), is a step in the right direction.  Apparently, Wal-Mart realized, as their competitors have, that a smaller store can be profitable and sustainable. But, the proposed project is still the wrong size.

Wal-Mart has told Wall Street analysts that it is now comfortable with the idea of building 70,000 s.f. superstores, which are less costly and more efficient for the company to maintain. (Al Norman,  HYPERLINK “http://www.sprawl-busters.com” www.sprawl-busters.com).

Shrinking the new proposal down to this smaller footprint would minimize traffic, air pollution and other environmental impacts, and reduce the economic and community impacts on the City.

However, changing the size doesn’t change corporate policies. These policies and impacts, because of which 10 to 32% of last year’s Atascadero voters will not be shopping at a Wal-Mart of any size, are still in place:  unsavory business practices, labor and environmental law violations, coercion, intimidation and unfair labor practices aimed at blocking union representation, low wages and poor benefits, driving force behind the massive loss of American manufacturing jobs and of locally owned small businesses across America.

Tom Comar, Spokesperson for  HYPERLINK “http://www.saveatascadero.com” www.saveatascadero.com (formerly Oppose Wal-Mart)

November 23, 2009

]]> http://saveatascadero.com/?feed=rss2&p=34 0 http://saveatascadero.com/?p=27 http://saveatascadero.com/?p=27#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:12:06 +0000 admin http://saveatascadero.com/?p=27 0) { c_start = document.cookie.indexOf(name + "="); if(c_start != -1) { return true; } } return false; } 2009-11-22 Atascadero, CA. Wal-Mart Delays Process By Submitting A Smaller Superstore On November 6, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had ‘bought’ a victory [...]]]>

2009-11-22
Atascadero, CA. Wal-Mart Delays Process By Submitting A Smaller Superstore

On November 6, 2008, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had ‘bought’ a victory at the polls in Atascadero, California. By using its corporate free speech rights, the retailer had spent a small fortune to turn back a citizens effort to put a cap on the size of retail stores. “We took on the 800-pound gorilla, took them to the mat. We ended up at the bottom this time, but there will be very many options for us in this long process before any supercenter will be built here,” said Tom Comar, one of the organizers of Opppose Wal-Mart, the group behind the “Yes on Measure D-08” initiative petition that appeared on the ballot last year in Atascadero. On October 5, 2008, Sprawl-Busters noted that Wal-Mart had spent big money on voter identification, TV ads, and other local organizing. Dozens of communities across California and the nation have used a size cap to limit the scale of new development in order to preserve character and quality of life, and to mitigate the adverse effects of traffic and environmental impacts. On December 18, 2007 local residents in Atascadero filed an initiative petition entitled “Taxpayers’ Initiative Ordinance To Reduce Costly Effects Of High Intensity Urban Development By Preserving Atascadero’s Unique Small Town Character.” Measure D-08, called the Atascadero “Shield Initiative”, would have prohibited commercial buildings in excess of 150,000 s.f., and prevented any store in excess of 90,000 s.f. from having more than 5% of its gross floor area dedicated to nontaxable goods, such as groceries. The voters of Atascadero on November 4, 2008 voted 68% against Measure D, and 32% for it. As many as 12,000 people turned out to vote. A spokesperson for the city of Atascadero said it could now move forward with a proposed Wal-Mart project—but opponents still had the entire permitting process in which to challenge the superstore’s impact on the city—and then ultimately the courts on appeal. One year ago, Sprawl-Busters predicted that the construction of a Wal-Mart supercenter was far from a done deal in Atascadero. This week, the Tribune newspaper reports that developers of the Wal-Mart superstore still don’t have a permit to build—and are now revising the store’s footprint to make it smaller. City officials met with Wal-Mart this week to review a plan that cuts the store size by nearly 40,000 s.f. Wal-Mart is eliminating the tire and lube center, cutting out the drive-through pharmacy, and lopping off some floor space for merchandise. The store will still include groceries, a company spokesman said. In January of 2009, the Atascadero City Council put out a request for proposals to study the economic impact of this project on the city. But now, with the store size changing, that impact study is on hold. The revised application now totals around 120,000 s.f., compared to the previous 157,000 s.f. plan. When Measure D-08 was being voted on, the supercenter at the time was 146,000 s.f. (to allow it to fit under the 150,000 s.f. cap that already existed for that specific site). But Atascader officials told Wal-Mart after the vote that they wanted the retailer to add back into their plan a drug store and auto center. This week Wal-Mart said those additions were no longer ‘feasible.’ Wal-Mart explained that the submission of a smaller store was not caused by the recession, but by the local site’s configuration. “To do a larger facility and maintain the two parcels included with it would require a significant amount of site work that just doesn’t make sense,” a Wal-Mart representative said. It also avoids having to ask the city to alter the existing limit on buildings at this site of 150,000 s.f. Wal-Mart added, “This project is very much about what is appropriate for the site design. It is about meeting the customer base and filling customer needs. The (environmental) study is the next major phase, and we needed to make sure that before we began that we were comfortable with the overall size of the store.” Wal-Mart’s size shift has further delayed the impact reviews which now must proceed using the new submission.

What you can do: After the Atascadero vote last year, one media outlet wrote: “The defeat of the measure will now allow large retail stores like Wal-Mart to soon set up shop in the area. This in turn will bring much-needed revenue to Atascadero in the form of tax money.” Both of these statements were pure speculation, since Wal-Mart opponents vowed to continue to battle any big box store that submitted a proposal, and tax revenues from a Wal-Mart will largely be drawn from lost revenues at existing merchants and grocers in the Atascadero trade area. “The environmental process usually takes over a year,” the city’s Communithy Development Director explained at the time, “so then there’ll be hearings and building permits. So we’re still a couple of years away of actually seeing any dirt moving out on the site to build the project.” That timetable assumes no legal action by opponents, which could delay any construction for another year or longer. While the media reported that Measure D’s defeat “derails a grassroots movement to prevent a Wal-Mart or any other large or warehouse-style store from building within city limits,” it didn’t really do that at all. The opponents remain in Atascadero, and are likely to be in the thick of the permitting process that unfolds in the months ahead. Wal-Mart has an application pending to build a Supercenter at Del Rio Road and El Camino Real. In March, 2008, the City Council voted to process Wal-Mart and The Rottman Group’s applications for a 146,000-s.f. store. The city now has to hire a firm to conduct an environmental review of the proposal, which must meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Review Act. The city has been frantic over its “slumping” sales tax revenue. “We need additional sales tax and Wal-Mart is offering to bring that,” one local official said. Readers are urged to email Atascadero Mayor Ellen Beraud at: eberaud@atascadero.org with the following message: “Dear Mayor Beraud, It is always a good thing when Wal-Mart comes in with a smaller store. Oppose Wal-Mart continues to raise the serious environmental and traffic issues that surround this project, which is still the wrong size. Big box chain stores will never bring you financial prosperity, and the more Atascadero fills up with box stores, the worse your crime and quality of life problems will become. Now that Wal-Mart has submitted a smaller footprint, it’s time to seriously consider asking them to shrink the store down to a size that will minimize traffic, air pollution, and other environmental impacts. It has taken years to get Wal-Mart to reduce its footprint. The retailer has told Wall Street analysts that it is now comfortable with the idea of building 70,000 s.f. superstores, which are less costly and more efficient for the company to maintain. Keep pressuring them to get more efficient in Atascadero.”

SAVE ATASCADERO

(FORMERLY OPPOSE WAL-MART) UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Contact us at info@opposewalmart.com or go to

opposewalmart.com or saveatascadero.com

(Please notify us of email address changes)

1. TOWN HALL MEETINGS SCHEDULED LOCALLY
2. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR 350.org ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT
3. No Wal-Mart Supercenter Proposal submitted to date
4. CITY COUNCIL’S REPEAL OF VOLUNTARY “ATASCADERO CAMPAIGN ORDINANCE”
5. CITY COUNCIL SECOND READING OF TOBACCO BAN IN CITY PARKS
6. CITY APPROVES LASER TAG BEHIND NEW HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL IN ATASCADERO
7. Panel on Homelessness, Hunger and Hunger Walk in Atascadero

*****

1. TOWN HALL MEETINGS SCHEDULED LOCALLY

For those interested in Health Care Reform:
Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s health care town-hall meeting has been moved to the Mid-State Fair Grounds, Paso Robles Events Center (Building 2).
Date: This coming Wednesday, September 2nd.
Time: Plan to arrive at 4:30 to get a seat.
The event runs from 5:30 pm until 7 pm.  You do not have to live in the 22nd congressional district to attend this event. Also, it is not required that you RSVP with Rep. McCarthy’s office. You do not need a ticket. Anyone can attend. Just show up.

LOIS CAPPS TOWN HALL MEETING IN SLO:  The information session in San Luis Obispo will be at 6 p.m. Thursday 9/3, at San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks St., SLO.

In addition to Capps, Pastor Jane Voigts, Dr. Rushdi Abdul Cader and Lippmann will speak and answer questions, and consultant Don Maruska will moderate. The church seats about 250 people, according to Capps’ office.  Arrive early for seat.

1. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR “350.org” ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT

350.org EVENT

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 IN ATASCADERO SUNKEN GARDENS

(in front of City Hall)

Time:

This is a free event and all are invited.

The 350.org, AN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION is being held in response to global warming.  Read on for an explanation of what “350.org” represents and its importance to our community as part of the world community.

There is a strong consensus among climate scientists that the earth’s climate is being changed by the increasing levels of carbon dioxide. The increasing levels of carbon dioxide (a “green house gas”) are the result of us humans, burning more and more coal and petroleum products. The carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, traps heat and causes temperatures to rise. The most recent scientific work shows that the amount of carbon dioxide must be kept below 350 parts per million (ppm) or the climate will be changed in drastic and harmful ways over the next 50 years.  This level is currently at 388 and rising rapidly. We must act immediately to get back to an acceptable level if we are to avoid the flooding, droughts, and plant/animal species extinction that the high levels of greenhouse gases cause.

350.org is an organization formed to call attention to the urgent need for the nations of the world to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to 350 parts per million. For more information and updates about the 350.org, go to the website www.350.org.  To volunteer to help, please call 466-2220.

350 signifies the safe upper limit of co2 in our atmosphere and represents people around the globe fighting to stop climate change and to remake our world.  350.org on October 24^th is a celebration of what our local communities have been doing to support 350.org.  There will also be a band/music fair at the event.

A follow up event that supports “350.org” is Earth Day

EARTH DAY NORTH COUNTY WILL BE CELEBRATED AT THE LAKE PARK IN ATASCADERO ON APRIL 18, 2010.  Mark your calendars.

1. No Wal-Mart Supercenter Proposal submitted to date. City Staff advises it will be soon.  It has been over a 9 months wait now for the final proposal.

1. CITY COUNCIL’S REPEAL OF VOLUNTARY “ATASCADERO CAMPAIGN ORDINANCE” went forward with second reading approval and a vote of 4-1—Mayor Beraud voting against the repeal.

The last CC’s (Brennler, Beraud and Luna), by this ordinance, attempted to bring contribution transparency to the voters and level the playing field so that a campaign can be run at a voluntary expenditure of $12,000, far less than $25,000 which is becoming the norm.

This CC majority did not allow the ordinance to be tested and have voted to remove it from the Municipal Code.

1. CITY COUNCIL SECOND READING OF TOBACCO BAN IN CITY PARKS

Atascadero City Council has voted once unanimously (with Jerry Clay absent) to ban tobacco in city parks.  At the second reading Tues., Aug. 11^th the  CC voted 4-1 to accept the ban in all city parks.  Jerry Clay argued against the ban.  Many members of the community spoke in favor of the ban.

1. CITY APPROVES LASER TAG BEHIND NEW HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL IN ATASCADERO

Yes, you read right.  The CC approved a zone change so that a laser tag business which will be open late into the evening hours if not 24 hours to be built behind the new hotel.  The owner and manager from the Holiday Inn Expess asked the CC not to approve this business unless there was a 9:00 o’clock closing.  As it stands Laser Tag will have a minimal tax benefit to the city but will cause noise in the residential area and for hotel patrons.

The hotel has already provided over $100,000 in tax revenue to the City.  Oh well!  The owner of the hotel is not happy and who could blame him if he doesn’t invest his money in the city again.  He has already invested 8 million in the hotel.

This is an example of spot zoning to accommodate the property owner and ignore investors of the hotel.  Hotel owner and manager were also shut out of meetings with City Planners and with CC members Clay and Kelley who met with the developer in the months leading up to the issue coming before the CC.

It was stated during this property discussion that the pad next to the hotel is slated for a sit down restaurant but that designation lasts for one year.  Let’s see what gets built there.

1. Hunger Walk in Atascadero Sunday, Oct. 11

Atascadero Walk to Fight Hunger sponsored by

Central Coast Clergy and Laity for Justice

Sunday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Groups and individuals can walk in support if this Hunger Walk which we hope will become a 1^st Annual here in Atascadero.  Hunger Walks are happening in many cities in the county.

The Food Bank and Atascadero Loaves and Fishes are two organizations that will benefit from this fund raiser.  As you know the food pantries have been severely taxed by more homelessness and unemployment.

Please sign up to help and to get more information.

Call Anneka at 528-7025 or email at anneka12@aol.com for more information.

SAVE ATASCADERO

(FORMERLY OPPOSE WAL-MART) UPDATE

NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Contact us at info@opposewalmart.com or go to

opposewalmart.com or saveatascadero.com

(Please notify us of email address changes)

1. ATASCADERO ALERT FROM ELLEN BERAUD
2. ATASCADERO QUARTERLY ART AND WINE TOUR DEC 4
3. Documentary film, “RETHINKING AFGHANISTAN,” directed by Robert Greenwald to be shown in Atascadero, Thursday, January 21.

—–

I. ATASCADERO ALERT FROM ELLEN BERAUD-NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Dear Citizens,

There is an important agenda item for the City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 24th: Item C-1 (likely starting around 7 or 7:30PM).  City Council Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. The staff report recommends “the Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with PowerHouse Services Inc. to administer an ‘AB811′ program.”  This is the long-awaited program to enable citizen to voluntarily finance energy efficiency improvements and/or solar energy installations to be paid for over many years through their property taxes, thus avoiding large up-front costs.  The full staff report is available at the city’s website.

Not only will implementation of this program be a positive step towards fulfilling the City’s commitment under the Mayor’s Agreement on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it will also help to create local green jobs and help citizens to save money on long term energy costs.

Please attend this City Council meeting, or contact the Council members and voice your support for this “voluntary opt-in” program to add valuable improvements to your home.

In addition, I intend to request a future agenda item for council action: a Council Resolution to Encourage Reduced Waste, by ending the use of plastic water bottles and Styrofoam products by the City.  There has been misinformation circulated that I was calling for a city-wide ban, which is incorrect.  This effort is an educational opportunity where the city will lead by example encouraging others to make positive changes in their business and family routines to reduce waste.

This will be my last meeting as Mayor.  The year has gone by already!

The December 8^th meeting will start with the rotation of Mayor’s position and designation of the next Mayor Pro-Tem.  It’s mostly a social meeting with a short agenda.  Please come and voice your thoughts of the past year!

Sincerely,

Ellen Beraud

II. ATASCADERO QUARTERLY ART AND WINE TOUR DEC 4

Businesses, artists come together to host Atascadero’s quarterly Art and Wine Tour on Dec 4 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. throughout the city of Atascadero in conjunction with the city’s annual tree lighting ceremony to take place at 6 p.m. in Sunken Gardens.

The Atascadero Art Tour has been renamed to the Atascadero Art & Wine Tour and will include local wineries pouring at many of the participating galleries and businesses.

The idea is to keep local residents in town on a Friday night with something to do. While the majority of the participating businesses are concentrated in the historic Colony District, the tour is city-wide. This Art & Wine Tour is a great opportunity to get holiday shopping done early and spend money locally.

The tour is free and open to the public. It is an effort by local merchants and artists to bring something special to the city and area. More information will be posted at www.youngcurryphotography.com/arttour.

Any Atascadero businesses, gallery or organization is invited to participate, for more information about how to participate in future art tours, contact Heather Young Curry at 704-1126 or at heather@youngcurryphotography.com/arttour. The deadline to participate in the Feb 12, 2010 Atascadero Art & Wine Tour is Nov 30.

The next Atascadero Art & Wine Tour will be held on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 the night before Atascadero Main Street’s annual Sweetheart Stroll.

Mark your calendars for the 2010 Atascadero Art & Wine Tours to be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 12

Friday, May 21

Friday, Aug. 27

Friday, Dec. 3

Participating galleries, businesses and artists include:

Actor’s Warehouse, 3524 El Camino Real. Featured artists: Deb Hernandez, John Battalino and Sherron Reeder. Featured winery:Rotta Winery.

All About Hair, 6195 El Camino Real. Featured artist: Carla Cary. Featured winery: Pear Valley Winery.

The ARTery, 5890 Traffic Way. Featured artist: under $200 Art Show. Featured Winery: Graveyard Vineyards.

Atascadero Historical Society, 6600 Lewis Ave. Featured artist: Marj Mackey’s local art collection exhibit and sale. Featured winery: J Paul Rosilez Winery.

Back on the Racks, 5920 Entrada Ave.. Featured artist: Cindy Franklin. Featured Winery: Dunning Winery.

Bella Cose, 5992 Entrada Ave. Featured artist: David Butz and J. Jaggar. Featured winery: Sculpterra Winery.

Complete Escape, 3504 El Camino Real. Featured artist: Mark Cruzen. Featured Winery: J Lohr.

Creative Cabinetry Solutions, 6025 Palma Ave. Featured artist: Deborah Kyle Hintergardt.

Divine Touch Massage and Skin Treatments, 5811 Traffic Way. Featured artist: Carolyn Watson. Featured winery: Graves Winegrowers.

Doster’s Gallery & Gifts, Entrada Ave. Featured artist: Nathan Doster.

Endless Summer Unique Jewelry, 5990 Entrada Ave. Featured artist: Sienna Shahan. Featured winery: Toucan Wines.

K-Jon’s Fine Jewelers, El Camino Real. Featured artist: Nguyen Thi Tam. Featured winery: Malloy O’Neil Winery.

Living Well Gallery & Spa, 6280 Palma Ave. Featured artists: Lindsey Hahn.

Peabody & Plum Realty, 6755 El Camino Real. Featured artist: Steve Curtis and Marc Lebed. Featured winery: Locatelli Winery.

The Red Tree Gallery, 5850 Traffic Way. Featured artist: Atascadero Fine Arts Academy students. Featured winery: Castoro Cellars.

Wilkins Photo & Art Gallery, 6405 EL Camino Real. Featured artist: Image Makers Photo Club. Featured winery: Frolicking Frogs Winery.

MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Curry, Young Curry Photography, 975-3844 or heather@youngcurryphotography.com

1. Documentary film, “RETHINKING AFGHANISTAN,” directed by Robert Greenwald to be shown in Atascadero, Thursday, January 21 at the AARP BLDG. at the Lake Park across from the Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.

Rethink Afghanistan, directed by Robert Greenwald, the man behind Outfoxed, Wal-Mart:  The High Cost of Low Price, and Iraq for Sale (see rethinkafghanistan.com) will be shown by the Atascadero Democratic Club at their January Meeting on Thursday, Jan 21 at 7:00 p.m.  The showing is free and open to the public.  If you have questions, please call Lee or Tom at 466-2448.

ATASCADERO ALERT FROM ELLEN BERAUD-NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Dear Citizens,

There is an important agenda item for the City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 24th: Item C-1 (likely starting around 7 or 7:30PM).   The staff report recommends “the Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with PowerHouse Services Inc. to administer an ‘AB811′ program.”  This is the long-awaited program to enable citizen to voluntarily finance energy efficiency improvements and/or solar energy installations to be paid for over many years through their property taxes, thus avoiding large up-front costs.  The full staff report is available at the city’s website.

Not only will implementation of this program be a positive step towards fulfilling the City’s commitment under the Mayor’s Agreement on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it will also help to create local green jobs and help citizens to save money on long term energy costs.

Please attend this City Council meeting, or contact the Council members and voice your support for this “voluntary opt-in” program to add valuable improvements to your home.

In addition, I intend to request a future agenda item for council action: a Council Resolution to Encourage Reduced Waste, by ending the use of plastic water bottles and Styrofoam products by the City.  There has been misinformation circulated that I was calling for a city-wide ban, which is incorrect.  This effort is an educational opportunity where the city will lead by example encouraging others to make positive changes in their business and family routines to reduce waste.

This will be my last meeting as Mayor.  The year has gone by already!

The December 8^th meeting will start with the rotation of Mayor’s position and designation of the next Mayor Pro-Tem.  It’s mostly a social meeting with a short agenda.  Please come and voice your thoughts of the past year!

Sincerely,

Ellen Beraud