Council approves 5% merit raise, extended term in city manager contract

The Arroyo Grande City Council on Tuesday approved a first amendment to City Manager Matt Downing's employment agreement following a properly noticed closed-session negotiation. City staff reported the three components of the amendment in open session before the vote, as required by the Brown Act. Per the amendment read into the record, Downing will receive a 5% merit increase to his base salary, bringing annual base pay to $265,661.76 as stated in the staff report. The contract also shifts Downing's annual performance evaluation to occur in or around March each year and extends the initial contract term by one year. City Manager Downing was present for the report and had no additional public disclosures beyond the oral summary. Council members moved and seconded approval of the amendment in open session; the council recorded the motion and adopted the amendment by roll call vote. No public speakers addressed the item during the open-session report period, and staff noted the oral summary matched the written amendment on the agenda.