Would Wal-Mart build sufficient road improvements to ensure improved traffic flow at the Cedar Hills/Barnes intersection?
The analysis has not been completed; traffic count data is being collected and processed. In the future with the additional traffic from the project, all study area intersections, including Cedar Hills/Barnes Road, will be required to operate within County and City standards. Improvements necessary to maintain these levels will be required by the reviewing agencies and constructed.
How long would the store stay in this location?
We anticipate that this store will remain at this location for the foreseeable future.
How many full-time employees with benefits do you anticipate hiring? How many part-time?
Both full and part-time associates are eligible for health benefits. We anticipate this store would employ over 350 associates. On average, 74 percent of our associates in the store are full-time employees.
Would you commit to working with TriMet to ensure adequate transit access to the store?
TriMet will be reviewing the study along with the City of Beaverton, Washington County, and ODOT. As part of the study, we will be reviewing transit access and pedestrian/bicycle connectivity as required by Washington County and the City of Beaverton.
Is Wal-Mart anticipating asking for tax concessions from either Washington County or Beaverton?
No.
What kind of community support would Wal-Mart offer to Cedar Mill? What kind of access to management would be offered for resolution of problems and for assistance with community affairs?
Our stores are responsive to community needs. Wal-Mart is the largest corporate cash giver in the nation. Ninety percent of those contributions are made at the local store level. Our managers and associates are encouraged to be positive partners in the communities where we have stores. Store managers are directly involved in requests made by community leaders to various charitable organizations.
What is the schedule?
Wal-Mart is expecting to file its land use application later this spring, 2005. The City will have 30 days to determine if the application is complete. Once the City deems the application complete, the City will have 120 days to render a final decision on the application. We generally anticipate that the initial hearings before the City Design Review Board will be held the middle of this summer.
When will development application be filed?
See answer above.
When are public meetings?
The exact dates will be determined later this spring once the application has been filed and deemed complete by the City. The City is required to provide notice of any public hearing associated with the Wal-Mart application.
Does Davis Wright Tremaine represent Peterkorts or Wal-Mart?
DWT represents Wal-Mart. It does not represent the Peterkorts.
Will Wal-Mart allow overnight parking of RVs at this site?
Wal-Mart is willing to agree to a condition of approval restricting such overnight parking since this is a critical issue for the community.
Are other Wal-Mart's planned for Washington County?
We continue to look for other opportunities to serve our customers. We have not filed any applications for additional stores in Washington County at this time.
How long is your contract with Peterkorts to see that the store is not to have groceries/food?
This restriction runs in perpetuity for the life of the long-term lease between Wal-Mart and the Peterkorts.
How often do you "renegotiate" these contracts -- or how binding is this one?
The agreement between Wal-Mart and the Peterkorts is legally binding. Wal-Mart does not expect the Peterkorts to renegotiate the terms of the current agreement, including the above restriction.
Briefly describe the specific of the "Wal-Mart in Beaverton" proposal to include process and timeline for public and governmental review, and estimate of construction dates.
Answers regarding process can be found above. Generally, our stores
take 10 months for construction.
Why was this particular location chosen? What will your store
bring to this area that may not already be found here? What will be
the economic benefit to the local area?
This site is zoned for our store’s use. Our store will bring the
low prices, convenience and customer service that Wal-Mart is known for. This
store will provide over 350 jobs to local residents. Also, this store
will generate thousands of dollars in property tax revenue used to support vital
needs in the area such as schools, roads, and public safety.
Estimated number of employees to be hired?
Full-time employees =
______ (number of hours worked to qualify as "full-time employee _____?)
Part-time employees =
______ (estimated number, or range, of hours per week employee will work).
We anticipate this store will provide over 350 jobs to local residents. On average, 74 percent of our associates are full-time. We consider a 34+ hour work week to be full-time.
Do you anticipate the
majority of employees at all levels will be hired from the local (or surrounding)
area?
Yes.
Provide example of anticipated rates of for various levels of employees
at the proposed location; especially, part-time employees.
The average hourly wage for Wal-Mart associates in the area is $10.09, excluding
salaried management associates. Additionally, associates are eligible
for performance-based bonuses.
Briefly describe the employee benefit package
available to Wal-Mart employees. Whatcriteria must the employee meet in
order to qualify for benefits?
Both full and part-time associates are eligible for health insurance. There are varying time periods for eligibility: 180 days for full-time associates, and two years for part-time associates. In recent years, Wal-Mart has contributed four percent of an associate’s eligible pay to the combined Profit Sharing & 401(k) plan. Other benefits include merchandise discounts, company-paid life insurance, vacation pay, and health insurance. Our hourly associates, just like our management and executive associates, receive bonuses and other incentives for helping the company achieve its goals.
Opponents have cited four "side effects" to the Wal-Mart proposal. Please
provide a brief response to each:
1. 20% drop in property values.
A study done in Pheonix, Ariz., demonstrated some softness in prices of nearby homes during construction of a Wal-Mart. However, nearby home prices out-performed the larger areas during the year following a Wal-Mart opening. This resulted in little change in home sale prices of homes near the store versus the wider area.
2. Choking traffic congestion.
The traffic analysis currently underway includes a review of intersection and corridor operations. This includes a review of intersection level of service and vehicle queuing. Washington County and the City of Beaverton have defined guidelines on how this analysis is to be conducted. Future intersection and corridor operations, with the development of the project, are required to maintain the City of Beaverton and Washington County standards with respect to intersection and corridor performance. The long-term (2020) analysis required by the City will include a review of all potential development in the area as envisioned in the City’s Transportation System Plan.
3. Irreversible damage to local businesses.
Studies show that new businesses spring up near Wal-Mart’s and existing stores flourish as they take advantage of the increased customer flow to and from our stores. Drive by any Wal-Mart store and count the number of businesses nearby; many are independent, local businesses or locally-owned franchises.
4. Increases in crime and loitering.
Wal-Mart takes safety of our customers and associates seriously. We work in partnership with the local authorities to minimize criminal activity at our stores. The vast majority of crimes that occur at our stores are crimes against Wal-Mart such as shoplifting and check forgeries. We devote significant resources, which smaller businesses don’t have, to apprehend these types of criminals, thereby decreasing their exposure to these same type of crimes.
Additional “side effects” that are important to note:
This store will provide over 350 jobs to local residents. These jobs pay competitive wages and offer a wide range of benefits. Tremendous opportunity is also available to our associates: 76 percent of our salaried store management team started out as hourly associates.
Our store will be a positive partner in the community through charitable giving. Wal-Mart stores contributed over $1.7 million last year to local causes and organizations in the state of Oregon alone. We also raised an additional $399,007 from our associates and customers for local causes.
Our stores support local suppliers. Wal-Mart spent over $350 million for merchandise and services with 744 suppliers in the state of Oregon last year. As a result of Wal-Mart’s relationship with these suppliers, Wal-Mart supports over 38,000 supplier jobs in the state.