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Focus group interview of gas station owners/managers: Mundie & Associates would conduct one or two focus groups (depending on the number of participants) to discuss the characteristics of existing stations and the impacts on operating characteristics that participants expect from a new Costco facility with 16 fueling stations. As of one year ago, the State Board of Equalization reported that Redwood City had 26 existing gas stations. Topics to be discussed at the focus group would include the number of gallons pumped per fueling station per month (or per year), residence locations of the customer base to the extent known (may be discernible from credit card and debit card payments), factors in achieving and maintaining financial viability of a gas station, and other issues that we identify as we prepare for this meeting. City staff would be responsible for (1) identifying and inviting participants, (2) arranging meeting space, and (3) providing simple refreshments (e.g., coffee/tea/water and pastries or cookies). The ideal size for a group interview is 8 to 12 participants; if more than 12 people indicate interest in attending, then a second session would be warranted. Analysis of shifts in per-station sales when new stations open. We note from State Board of Equalization records that one gas station was added in Redwood City in late 2003; we have not yet checked records prior to 2003 to describe a longer trend. We would include the analysis of changes in per-station sales as part of our economic analysis. Economic Task 3: Contact Cities with Comparable Projects We will ask both the City and Costco to help us identify cities where Costco has recently (past 5 to 10 years) expanded a store and/or added a gas station. If possible, these cities should be communities that are comparable to Redwood City; that is, of comparable size and immediately adjacent to other incorporated areas. We will contact City staff in the identified communities to ask about observed effects of the Costco expansions and gas stations. These observations are most likely to be qualitative, but we will also attempt to obtain information about sales in retail outlets, closures of competing stores, or other quantified data to describe the impacts of the completed projects. Economic Task 4: Estimate Economic Impacts Direct Impacts. Using information provided by the project sponsor, we will report the number of new jobs that would result from the proposed Costco expansion and gas station, and the total income (wages and benefits) associated with those jobs. This estimate may be considered the "gross change" in jobs; it does not consider possible offsetting job losses in competitive stores. Indirect Impacts: Jobs and Incomes. Using information about employment and sales patterns in the city of Redwood City, projections of population growth in the Redwood City market area, and information obtained from the comparable communities and from previous projects, we will estimate the impact of projected retail sales attracted by the proposed store expansion and gas station on existing stores/stations and jobs in Redwood City. This estimate will be based primarily on a comparison of the supply of retail store space to the estimated demand for retail goods. We will also consider a range of '-¡-'-""-~--Y-'-" ...-