On Tuesday, the City Council of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., voted to table a measure mandating a high minimum wage that would only affect Walmart and similar companies. Councilwoman Yvonne Parks called the plan “an absolute killer for economic development.” She’s right.

The proposal would require large new retailers such as Walmart to pay minimum wages of $10.20 per hour, 13 percent higher than the current California minimum of $9. The wage would go up to $12.20 by 2018 and be tied to inflation after that. Exempt from the higher minimum would be smaller businesses, existing large retailers, franchises — and unionized workers.