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Commissioner Maas noted that the average shoppers wanted the best price they could get and were not generally concerned about smaller stores. She noted that in retail, the best price was the primary issue. Commissioner Sullivan believed that they were not really the best price because the taxpayers paid in other ways to subsidize those prices. He suggested that the City Council hold a public hearing to invite the opinions of Pleasanton residents. Chairperson Roberts read a letter to the City Council from Ann Lenore Lewis: "Dear City Council: "I am a senior citizen, a widow, and have been living on a fixed income who does a lot of shopping at WalMart. I was curious as to why one of your Councilpeople (Jennifer Hosterman) would meet with Safeway union workers about Wa1Mart. Is it about their lower prices? Has she met with senior citizens? Has she met with low-income people? ..." Chairperson Roberts noted that the remainder of the letter essentially stated that the City was discriminating against senior citizens by cutting out Wa1Mart. Commissioner Arkin noted that he generally shopped at WalMart three times a week. He appreciated their late hours if he needed to buy household supplies at that time. He did not believe that a grocery store in Pleasanton would affect the amount of groceries purchased in Pleasanton because people did not generally buy more food than they need. Commissioner Arkin noted that the meat at Costco was generally of a higher quality than most grocery stores. He noted that the stores in Stoneridge Mall paid lower wages than the Downtown area and did not see an effort to make them increase their salaries. Chairperson Roberts recalled that when the Mall opened, many residents believed that Downtown Pleasanton would collapse. Commissioner Arkin noted that he would be more interested in hearing a living wage argument for Pleasanton than focusing on Wa1Mart. He noted that Wa1Mart advertised for employees for $8.00 an hour, which was above minimum wage. Commissioner Fox recalled WalMart's decision to sell toys below cost before Christmas and noted that Zany Brainy had closed their Dublin toy store. Commissioner Maas noted that closure was part of the ongoing FAO Schwartz bankruptcy proceeding. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 1 I, 2004 Page 14 of 19