Report Prepared by: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Review of Draft Language Regarding Charter Section 402-Compensation of the Mayor and City Council for Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee Discussion, Consideration and Potential Modification
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers proposed revisions to City Charter Section 402 regarding compensation for the Mayor and City Council Members.
RECOMMENDATION
Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee - Adopt a Motion:
A. Approving the language as submitted; or,
B. Providing staff with direction on any suggested changes to the proposed language for Section 402; or,
C. Take no action; or,
D. Continue the matter to the next regular meeting.
Body
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Recommendations regarding Charter Amendments.
DISCUSSION
On July 25, 2019, staff presented the Committee with options to consider regarding Charter Section 402, “Compensation.” The Committee directed staff to prepare draft language for consideration. The draft language is set forth below:
“Sec. 402. - Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The members of the city council, including the Mayor, shall receive a monthly salary for their services as such, and shall receive reimbursement for expenses incurred while performing official duties of their office. Absence of a councilmember, including the Mayor, from all regular and special meetings of the council during any calendar month shall render such councilmember ineligible to receive such compensation for such calendar month.
(b)(1) There shall be established a Citizen’s Salary Setting Commission consisting of seven (7) members to be appointed by the City Council from the qualified electors of the City.
(2) The Commission’s shall hold at least two (2) public hearings between March 1st and June 30th of every even-numbered year and shall recommend, by majority vote and in writing, to the Council the amount of the monthly salary which it deems appropriate for the members of the Council for the two year period beginning January 1st of the next year. The amount recommended for each Councilmember shall be the same.
(3) The Commission’s shall hold at least two (2) public hearings between March 1st and June 30th of a Mayoral election year and shall recommend, by majority vote and in writing, to the Council the amount of the monthly salary which it deems appropriate for the Mayor for his/her entire term beginning in January of the next year. The salary recommended for the Mayor shall, at a minimum, be the same as the other Councilmembers; however, the Commission may recommend providing the Mayor with greater compensation beyond his/her salary as a member of the City Council.
(4) The Council shall, by resolution, adopt the salaries as recommended by the Commission, or in some lesser amount, but in no event may it increase the amount. Salaries of the Councilmembers and Mayor may be reduced at any time by two-thirds (2/3) of the Council. Salaries shall remain in effect until amended by a subsequent resolution adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section.”
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Legislative Drafts (red-line version) of Section 402-Compensation