IOWA SITE FIGHT: WAL-MART MOVES FORWARD

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Wal-Mart passes 2nd hurdle [Iowa City Press-Citizen]

The Iowa City Council appears poised to put a final stamp of approval on Wal-Mart’s plans to build a 190,000-square-foot supercenter, as they approved a second consideration of the proposal Tuesday night.

The vote was 6-1 with Councilor Mike Wright dissenting.

The council has heard a considerable amount of disapproval and support of the proposal from community members and others.

International Brother-hood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa in a letter to the council chided them for supporting the proposal, citing Wal-Mart’s “policies that discriminate against its workers, including female and minority employees.”

However, the majority of councilors rejected arguments that the decision should be based on Wal-Mart’s status as a corporate citizen.

“The appropriate forum for grievances against a corporation are the courts system and the state legislature,” Councilor Matt Hayek said.

Hayek added that Wal-Mart’s proposal is purely a land-use issue.

Councilor Mike O’Donnell said fears that the Wal-Mart will reduce development in Iowa City are unfounded.

“Look at the Supercenter Wal-Mart in Coralville and look at the development around it,” he said.

The council will need to approve a third consideration of the proposal for final approval.

At issue is Wal-Mart’s plan to demolish its current store, Staples and an abandoned Cub Foods store at 1001 Highway 1 W. to make way for the supercenter.

In other council business:

• The City Council directed city employees during a work session to start enforcing an existing ordinance that prohibits commercial vehicles from parking in the center lane of Dubuque Street.

• The council unanimously approved final consideration of an ordinance that prohibits smoking in public areas such as municipal parking ramps, some parks and a portion of the pedestrian mall.

• The City Council approved first consideration of an ordinance that allows Segways to be used on sidewalks. The ordinance was revised before the meeting to prohibit the use of the two-wheeled, motorized vehicles on sidewalks in the downtown area.

City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes said the ordinance was changed to make Segway regulations consistent with those on bicycle use, which also are prohibited on downtown sidewalks.

Posted by Luke West on Wednesday, September 10, 2008