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Angela Wilmes said she, too, is opposed to WalMart. She favors a CUP ordinance and thinks the residents should have a say as to what comes to their city. There are many small, struggling businesses in town and while the City can get revenue from WalMart, it will lose revenue from other sources that close down and see negative effects on traffic. Dave Connolly, President, Alameda Labor Council, said no decision-making body in Alameda County should consider the question of expansion of WalMart without understanding two important points- WalMart is the company that pioneered the privatization of profits while socializing costs and risks, putting pressure on local budgets, and eroding good jobs and benefits. David Wensky said he and his wife own two rental properties in Valley Business Park and as an owner and resident, he knows it is hard to rent property to good tenants. He thinks WalMart has been a good corporate citizen, said it is untrue that WalMart pays no benefits to its workers, and he supported them being given an opportunity to develop the property. Linda Martin said she lives and works in Pleasanton and while she respects its workers, she feels WalMart pays less money than responsible retailers, and this becomes a quality of life issue. Part-time employees at WalMart do not get health benefits and often depend on County aid such as Medicare and food stamps. WalMart sets a standard for other employers, pays less money with less benefits, and this creates a race to the bottom. Michael Grossman said he lives within walking distance to the proposed WalMart and if Nob Hill was a profit center, it would still be in operation. He felt the market should decide if residents do not want it. It will close if residents do not want it and if they do want it, it will thrive. He also asked that those responsible in funding and creating a mailer identify themselves and identify where they are located. Deborah Herron, Public Affairs Manager, WalMart, said they are very pleased to be able to join the community and be a WalMart neighborhood market store. She thinks the City will find this type of store is very different than the store currently in Pleasanton as it offers fresh foods, meat and deli counter, household items, a pharmacy and many things customers would like to see at this location. They were thrilled the vacant property became available and was something that worked out well for them to lease. She looks forward to adding more jobs in the community and to continuing provisions for community grants. Joe Roe, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, said developments go through a growth maturity and decline phase and this is what is known as highest and best use. Perhaps this development has seen its growth and now is in its decline which has caused Nob Hill to move out. Certain economic law can never be ignored regardless of civil laws. It is fundamental economics, and not all business is good business. Secondly, excessive competition ruins it for all businesses involved. He questioned how many grocery stores the town needs and how many would survive. WalMart has said the store will create 100 jobs but 200 jobs will be lost which is a fact based on all studies done on the impact of WalMarts. He urged the Council to pass a CUP ordinance to restore local community control over projects coming to town because he has always been able to experience the ambience of the town and high quality schools and a thriving downtown, and he asked the Council to exercise its judgment and do what is right for the town. Mayor Hosterman asked for comment from the City Attorney regarding actions asked of the Council. City Attorney Lowell stressed that the action the Council is taking is either to accept the report of the Zoning Administrator and the Planning Commission's recent actions, and the Council has the option to appeal any of those actions. In the case of the Zoning Certificate for WalMart, the Zoning Administrator (ZA) has determined that the proposed project is consistent with zoning for that site and more particularly, that the proposed use is a permitted use and meets conditions of approval under the existing Planned Unit Development zoning for that site. He said the ZA's action is subject to appeal, City Council Minutes Page 4 of 26 February 7, 2012