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Council agrees to propose staged pay increases for elected officials; mayor’s pay also discussed
Summary
Councilors discussed multiple proposals for raising council and mayor pay. By consensus staff were directed to prepare resolutions that stage council increases over two years and the mayor’s increase over three years so the proposals can be published for the required election-year notice and considered at the upcoming meetings.
Councilors debated several proposals to increase compensation for elected officials and directed staff to prepare language for the public notices required by state law.
Heidi, the assistant city attorney, reviewed the legal constraints: state law requires an ordinance fixing elected-official compensation to be published at least 75 days before a general city election and the ordinance takes effect on Jan. 1 following that election. Councilors discussed staging increases over multiple years rather than taking a single-step raise. Several councilors said modest staged increases would help recruitment and retention of candidates who are younger, working or self-employed, while others cautioned that large percentage increases could be politically sensitive in an election year.
Council reached a working direction for the draft language: move council compensation toward $21,000 (spread over two years, with half of the increase effective Jan. 1, 2026, and the other half Jan. 1, 2027) and move the mayor’s pay toward $125,000 spread over three years. Councilors emphasized that any final ordinance will be public, will be subject to the statutory notice timeline, and can still be altered or rejected at the public meeting. Staff said the finalized ordinance or resolution language must be submitted promptly to meet publication deadlines for the election year.
The council did not adopt a final ordinance at the meeting; staff were directed to prepare draft ordinance/resolution language for the Thursday hearings and to confirm publication timing. City attorney staff noted changes cannot take effect until after the next general election per state statute.
