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Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - May 3, 1993 Page - 18 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) average of the seven charter cities or the fourteen total cities. He said people did not move here to champion mediocrity. He said he feels the Tax should be as much as $7 or $8 or perhaps even $9. He asked the Council not to dwell on the average because most of us who dwell here don't want to be average. There being no further comments from the public, on motion of Council Member Polvorosa, seconded by Council Member Kerr, and carried unanimously, the Public Hearing was closed. Council Member Faria moved to pass to print and adopt the Ordinance, seconded by Council Member Myers. • Council Member Myers thanked the Task Force. He said he doesn't think the people on the Task Force realized what they were getting into. He said he is proud to have been involved with this, and it was a cross section of the City. He said the City Council is looking at and taking Task Force recommendations into account in preparing the budget. He said he hears people want to keep the quality of life and agrees with wanting to be better than average. He said the City will help first- time home buyers on this program. Council Member Corbett asked if the motion included a 30- to 45-day implementation period. Council Member Faria said this should be left up to the Finance Director. Mr. Jermanis said implementation would probably begin on June 1st. Council Member Kerr said he thought the Task Force did a great job. He said this is 6/10ths of 1%. He said sales tax is 8-1/4%. He said on a $20,000 car you would pay $1 ,650 in sales tax, but on a $200,000 house you only pay $1 ,200 to the City. He said the City needs to implement this Tax. Council Member Perry said it is important to note that the City will be instituting a first-time-buyer assistance program. She said, even at $6.00, the City will still be at the bottom of the charter cities. She said the City Council does not want people to get hurt. She said this kind of fee can be financed. She noted real estate commissions are 6%, and perhaps realtors could kick in toward the Tax. She said it is important to maintain the quality of life in San Leandro. Council Member Corbett said the City Council does not sit around thinking of ways to tax people. She said it was great to have the Task Force to give the Council ideas on how to plug each new hole and hurt the fewest people. She said people do not want to see Fire Department, Police Department, libraries, pools, and recreation services eliminated. She said it is hard to raise taxes, but it must be done in order to keep the services that maintain the quality of life.