[Vision2020] no superwalmart and water

[Mark Solomon]

Jeff:

I've heard this argument from you (and now Kirkland) before and it 
doesn't hold water. First, water indeed does fall on all surfaces in 
the county but to argue that it is somehow available for use is just 
wrong. We do not live in a slick rock desert where most of the precip 
runs off. We have plants, including a lot of crops, forests and 
pasture lands. It is estimated by UI scientists that over 80% of the 
precip that hits the ground is utilized or evapo-transpirated by 
plants. Most of the rest finds it's way into the creeks with a very 
tiny percentage estimated to actually recharge to groundwater. I'll 
point out the obvious: if we had  so much extra water here maybe we'd 
have lakes and rivers, too. Instead we have the famous words of 
Weyerhauser upon being asked by a local reporter back in 1901 where 
he was going to locate his new sawmill, Potlatch or Moscow. He said, 
"There's not enough water in Moscow to baptize a bastard." Nothing 
has changed to improve that assessment in the intervening 105 years.

Are you seriously suggesting that we should dry up the most 
productive wheat farms in the world and the area streams so we can 
have a WalMart? You're a reasonable person so I don't think that is 
what you are recommending. So why throw out these numbers divorced 
from reality?

As I've posted previously, the tipping point, based on past aquifer 
performance recorded in actual data, is likely to occur within 15-20 
years not 100 as you "conservatively" state. The reality is Moscow 
now draws 30% of it's water from the upper Wanapum aquifer. Moscow 
just about dried out the Wanapum by pumping about that same amount of 
water in the period from 1920-1960. The Wanapum recovered in the 
largely non-pumping period from 1960-1990 after Moscow drilled into 
the deep aquifer for its replacement supply. Actual well data is now 
showing declines in Wanapum static water levels closely following the 
data curve from the earlier period. We're at about the 1940 point on 
the curve. That leaves us 20 years before the Wanapum wells go dry 
unless we do something now.

Large infrastructure projects such as reservoirs, rainwater 
collection (and the treatment plants that go along with them) take a 
lot of time to design, finance and construct. The time to start is 
now and throwing out red herrings "we don't have a water supply 
problem" only delay the political/community consensus needed to begin 
such a large and expensive undertaking.

Mark S.



At 7:45 AM -0700 6/20/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:
>Matt and Mark,
>
>The scare tactics being used to limit growth and development in 
>Latah County are far from over.  It is going to require a 
>substantial effort to counter the claims made about the negative 
>aspects of growth.  But if the adults in this community rise to the 
>challenge, we will be able to promote growth and assure a prosperous 
>future for our children and grandchildren.
>
>Let me just offer a couple of insights on the "water supply" issue 
>raised by Solomon.  He and his followers want you to believe that we 
>have a water supply problem.  Of course, with an average rainfall of 
>24 inches per year falling on the 1077 square miles of Latah County, 
>that equates to about 418,176,000 gallons of water per square mile. 
>Just run that out over the total square miles in Latah County and 
>one discovers that we have access to about half a trillion gallons 
>of water each year.  Water consumption for Moscow and Pullman is 
>estimated to be about 2-3 billion gallons each year.  Of course 
>Whitman County also receives about 24 inches of rain each year.  As 
>you can surmise, we don't have a water supply problem.
>
>They usually counter with the claim that they are concerned about 
>the ground water system and that with the aquifer dropping about 1 
>to 1.5 feet per year, we are doomed to run out of ground water. 
>Although there is dispute about the actual size of the deep water 
>aquifers, testing seems to validate that the aquifer is at least 400 
>feet deep - some state it is deeper.  Look at these numbers -  and 
>lets assume that we can only use about 25% of the available aquifer 
>depth - about a 100 feet.  Using these conservative estimates, we 
>might see a decline in our ability to provide ground water in about 
>100 years.  That would seem to be an adequate amount of time to 
>figure out how to contain some of our surface water (rainfall).
>
>Notice how the tax question you raised was shunted just to property 
>taxes.  Once retail sales move to Whitman County, we will experience 
>an enormous loss of sales tax revenue.
>
>Matt - keep posting, keep raising the awareness of your friends and 
>neighbors to these issues.  Today, the anti-WalMart group is 
>attempting to restrict where you and your family can shop - what 
>will they attempt to control next?
>
>At 05:21 AM 6/20/2006, you wrote:
>>Matt,
>>
>>Read my previous posts and columns on why it is unlikely that the 
>>Hawkin's development will be built (water supply) and the 
>>difference in taxation structures between Idaho and Washington that 
>>diminishes the importance of sales tax revenues in the general 
>>scheme of things in Moscow. Sure, there would be an increase in 
>>property tax revenue if a building was built in Moscow, but that 
>>can be of a very fleeting nature  witness the dark Tidyman's 
>>building and the 33% reduction in assessed value now that it is 
>>dark. That spiral down will continue each year it is empty as part 
>>of the commercial property assessment formula is an "income test".
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>At 10:25 PM -0700 6/19/06, Matt Decker wrote:
>>>Mark,
>>>
>>>How was the party? Was everyone giving high fives to the fact that 
>>>Wally world is gone? Did we all have a good time since this was 
>>>the best for Moscow? I myself laugh in dismay wondering why we 
>>>push these companies 100 feet over the border.
>>>
>>>Now the new rumor is Walmart is trying to move in with the Hawkins 
>>>development. Well hey you won. You might have managed to push them 
>>>over to Whitman county, allowing hundreds of thousands of dollars 
>>>of tax revenue to be spent over there. My kids will hopefully have 
>>>a new school by the time they are 16, but not at this rate.
>>>
>>>Face it Mark, tax money is crossing the border. Why shouldn't we join in?
>>>
>>>Matt
>>>
>>>>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
>>>>To: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>, "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>;,
>>>>     vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] no superwalmart -- Tribune report
>>>>Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 07:13:00 -0700
>>>>
>>>>Jeff,
>>>>
>>>>I never said I was not concerned about the loss of sales tax 
>>>>dollars. I did say that due to the ID sales tax distribution 
>>>>formula and the difference in tax structures between WA and ID, 
>>>>the weight of sales tax revenue in the decision to approve or 
>>>>disapprove a motor business rezone in Moscow was a minor part of 
>>>>the issues to be considered, especially as the Pullman 
>>>>supercenter was expected to siphon off the Pullman trade that had 
>>>>been coming to Moscow.  Let's remember that we were not given a 
>>>>choice between building a store in Pullman or Moscow: the Pullman 
>>>>store was well on the path toward approval while the Moscow store 
>>>>had not even been heard of. And to answer your question ahead of 
>>>>time: I would have opposed a Moscow supercenter even if it was 
>>>>the first out of the blocks as we already have a Walmart and a 
>>>>Winco.
>>>>
>>>>Beyond that, hats off to Schweitzer for building their business 
>>>>in the Palouse. We all benefit.
>>>>
>>>>Mark S.
>>>>
>>>>At 12:27 AM -0700 6/18/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:
>>>>>Commissars
>>>>>
>>>>>Yes, this was disappointing news - the loss of this retail 
>>>>>investment is tragic.  But, perhaps WalMart will reconsider the 
>>>>>Pullman location and move the supercenter store to the corridor 
>>>>>(and close the current Moscow location).
>>>>>
>>>>>Grocery patrons can then enjoy sales-tax-free grocery purchases 
>>>>>- and get all the shopping benefits of a supercenter - without 
>>>>>actually having to have one in Moscow.  I recall Solomon and 
>>>>>others not concerned about loss of sales tax revenue since there 
>>>>>is not a direct return on those dollars to city coffers.
>>>>>
>>>>>With the new four-lane road, access should be great and my guess 
>>>>>is that there will be more than adequate parking. In all 
>>>>>likelihood, WallMart will allow the Moscow-Pullman shuttle bus 
>>>>>to use their location for a bus stop.  Proximity to Bike trail 
>>>>>will make two-wheel access easy.
>>>>>
>>>>>I had the chance to visit the new Kennewick WalMart supercenter 
>>>>>store a couple of weeks ago.  They had a very good organic food 
>>>>>section (most of the produce locally grown - Tri-Cities area) 
>>>>>and the best selection of Mexican/Spanish condiments I have seen 
>>>>>outside of Mexico.
>>>>>
>>>>>Oh, that hissing sound you hear - don't worry about it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Perhaps it passed your noting, but front page of Daily News also 
>>>>>carried a story about job growth in Pullman.  It was noteworthy 
>>>>>to see that Schweitzer Eng. will expand its manufacturing 
>>>>>facilities in Pullman and add another 300 jobs. Presumably the 
>>>>>initial infusion of salary dollars to Pullman will be 
>>>>>approximately $20 MM dollars annually (300 jobs at $65,000).  As 
>>>>>those salaries are converted into product (all of which are 
>>>>>exported utility grid and related components), the gross effect 
>>>>>to the Pullman area could exceed $50 MM annually - as a point of 
>>>>>reference, that is about $15 to $20 MM higher than the total 
>>>>>annual gross production of agriculture in Latah County.
>>>>>
>>>>>Meanwhile, our own local brain trust is busily crafting their 
>>>>>vision of the ultimate planned economy ... high rise condos and 
>>>>>apartments within one mile of downtown?  Mixed use neighborhoods 
>>>>>with easy access shopping, electric car repair and laundramats - 
>>>>>???????? Will neighborhood taverns be allowed???
>>>>>
>>>>>  ... and Beebe withdrew his proposal for Grain Elevator Condos????
>>>>>
>>>>>I wonder if the town center will be paved in red bricks?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>At 04:09 PM 6/16/2006, you wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart shelves Moscow super center
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>By ELAINE WILLIAMS
>>>>>>of the Tribune
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart has put plans for a super center in Moscow on the back burner.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart will not pursue a location on the southeast corner of 
>>>>>>Mountain View Road and Highway 8, east of a former Tidyman's 
>>>>>>site and near Eastside Marketplace, said Karianne Fallow, a 
>>>>>>spokeswoman for Wal-Mart in Boise.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Wal-Mart has decided to re-evaluate our opportunities for a 
>>>>>>super center in Moscow,'' Fallow said in a Thursday 
>>>>>>announcement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"While we're fully committed to continuing to serve our 
>>>>>>customers on the Palouse, we can't continue to delay our 
>>>>>>relocation plans at this time,'' Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart will continue to operate its existing Moscow store, Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart will also seek to open a 223,000-square-foot super 
>>>>>>center on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>That project has been appealed by Pullman Alliance for 
>>>>>>Responsible Development in Whitman County Superior Court.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>And Wal-Mart will also look for alternative super center sites 
>>>>>>in Moscow, Fallow said. "We still continue to view Pullman and 
>>>>>>Moscow as two very distinct markets.''
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Fallow said Wal-Mart has no plans to build a super center in 
>>>>>>Lewiston at this time. Rumors about such a store have been 
>>>>>>circulating in Lewiston for months.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wal-Mart's decision is directly related to action taken by the 
>>>>>>Moscow City Council last month, Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The panel rejected a request to rezone 77 acres from 
>>>>>>agriculture-forestry to motor business, a designation that 
>>>>>>could have opened the door for a number of big-box retailers on 
>>>>>>the site.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At the time, the council indicated that a rezone request for a 
>>>>>>lesser amount of property might be acceptable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But Wal-Mart isn't interested in following up, Fallow said. 
>>>>>>"The city council has continually changed the rules of the 
>>>>>>game. And creating a guessing game for any kind of development 
>>>>>>is a very expensive endeavor.''
>>>>>>
>>>>>>First the land needed to be rezoned and then how much needed to 
>>>>>>be rezoned wasn't clear, Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Then it wasn't possible for the store plans to be reviewed 
>>>>>>before the rezone and other parts of the process were settled, 
>>>>>>Fallow said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Attempts to reach the city's elected officials Thursday 
>>>>>>afternoon by e-mail were not successful. All of them were out 
>>>>>>of town, most of them attending the Idaho Association of Cities 
>>>>>>conference in Lewiston.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"We certainly respect the decision Wal-Mart has made,'' said 
>>>>>>Bill Belknap, assistant city supervisor. "We wish them the best 
>>>>>>in their endeavors.''
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Mark Solomon, a coordinator of No Super Wal-Mart, said Moscow 
>>>>>>already has the services a Wal-Mart would have provided at its 
>>>>>>own store and in retailers owned by Palouse residents.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"It's great news that the most predatory retailer on the planet 
>>>>>>won't be gaining any larger presence in Moscow,'' Solomon said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Solomon's group already had a party planned for 7 p.m. tonight 
>>>>>>at the 1912 Center in Moscow to mark the previous zoning 
>>>>>>decision of the city council. "There will be additional cause 
>>>>>>to celebrate Moscow's vitality,'' Solomon said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But Fallow said it's wrong for Moscow residents to view her 
>>>>>>employer's decision as a victory. "With a super center comes 
>>>>>>additional jobs, additional tax revenue. You name it, there are 
>>>>>>a lot of benefits to having a super center in the city.''
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Solomon disagreed. Wal-Mart jobs replace better paying ones in 
>>>>>>existing local businesses, Solomon said.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>------
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Williams may be contacted at ewilliam at lmtribune.com or at (208) 
>>>>>>743-9600, ext. 261.
>>>>>>=====================================================
>>>>>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>>>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>>>>http://www.fsr.net
>>>>>>mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>>>>====================================================
>>>
>>>
>>>>=====================================================
>>>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>>                http://www.fsr.net
>>>>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>>====================================================
>>>
>>>_________________________________________________________________
>>>On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on 
>>>how to get there! 
>>>http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement