Council creates compensation committee and directs staff to align contribution limit with state law

The City Council on May 20 directed staff to assemble a Council Compensation Committee to review full compensation packages — including the mayor, council members, Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission stipends and professional development allowances — and to solicit community input. The motion passed 5‑0.

Staff explained the charter requires compensation reviews on a biannual schedule in even years, and staff described an administrative approach for selecting the committee: a prior elected official, a member of the personnel board, and five additional community members nominated by council members and vetted by the city clerk. The committee will be formed following council direction and is expected to meet in the fall and return recommendations in early 2026 for council consideration.

Separately, councilmembers agreed to direct staff to change the single‑person campaign contribution limit in the city’s municipal election regulations to align with the state Political Reform Act and FPPC guidance, i.e., raising the local limit to $500. Council Member Boswell moved the change and Council Member Francis seconded; the council voted 5‑0 to direct staff to prepare the required ordinance or regulatory amendment for a future meeting.

Council members said they want the compensation committee to review all advisory bodies, evaluate a CPI catch‑up for professional development (staff noted ~35% cumulative increase since 2012), and consider whether the mayor’s term or other charter changes should be studied separately. Staff will return with a schedule and outreach plan for the compensation review and will prepare the campaign contribution ordinance language for council consideration.