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Council moves to prepare resolution to reject pay commission's recommended raises
Summary
The elected officers compensation commission recommended raising the mayor's annual pay to $15,000 and council members' pay to $13,000. Council voted Oct. 7 to direct the city attorney to draft a resolution denying the recommendation and to bring that resolution to the next regular meeting.
The city's elected officers compensation commission recommended Sept. 30 that the mayor's annual pay be raised from $11,000 to $15,000 and councilmembers' pay from $9,470 to $13,000. The clerk reported the commission's unanimous vote and reminded council that unless council adopts a two-thirds resolution rejecting the recommendation within 30 days, the pay change would take effect.
Council response: Councilmember Altman moved to deny the commission's recommendation and asked the city attorney to draft the required resolution. After legal staff advised that a written resolution consistent with the statute is the proper vehicle, the council voted to defer and asked the city attorney to prepare a denial resolution for the next meeting. The roll call on the motion to defer/draft a resolution was: Altman Yes; Meadows Yes; Watson No; Singh Yes; Mayor Brookover No (resulting in the motion carrying). The clerk noted that if council takes no action the increases would become effective 30 days after the clerk received the commission letter (the clerk said the letter was received Oct. 3, making an effective date of Nov. 2 if no action is taken).
Why it matters: The compensation commission conducts this review biennially under the Home Rule City Act and ordinance; council can only accept or reject the commission's recommendation by resolution. The proposed increases would raise the annual stipend paid to elected officials and take effect by default without action to reject.
Next steps: City Attorney will draft a resolution rejecting the recommended increases for council consideration at the next regular meeting.
Ending: Council did not approve the raises at the Oct. 7 meeting; instead it directed staff to prepare a formal resolution to deny the compensation commission's recommendation.
