Monrovia council approves 9% raise and one-time sick-leave cash-out for city manager

The Monrovia City Council voted Tuesday to amend City Manager Dylan Feek’s employment agreement, approving a 9% salary increase to $280,007.16 and authorizing a one-time redemption of up to $30,000 of accrued sick leave.

City staff said the amendment also removes a 5% annual cap on future salary increases that was written into Feek’s original contract. City staff presented the changes in open session as required by law and recommended the adjustments after a market review showed the city manager’s pay lagging comparable jurisdictions.

City attorney/staff member Dylan Steele told the council the resolution (No. 2025‑45) would do three things: delete the existing 5% cap on annual salary increases, approve a 9% raise that moves the manager toward peer averages, and permit Feek to redeem up to $30,000 of accrued sick leave. Steele said Feek’s current salary was $257,005.48 and that Feek had about 529 hours of accrued sick leave; the proposed cash-out would be placed into a deferred compensation account.

The council acted after public comment. Resident Karen Suarez told the council she was “thrilled with the job” Feek had done, citing his response to recent fires. Suarez’s remarks were entered during the public-comment period and attributed in the meeting record.

To avoid any appearance of conflict, Steele suggested Feek recuse himself during discussion of his compensation; Feek left the room for the deliberation and vote and returned afterward. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval of the resolution; all council members present voted to adopt it. No changes to other terms of the employment agreement were described in the staff presentation.

After the vote Feek, back in the chamber, thanked the council and said, “I love this town. Love working with the city council. This is just the best team I’ve ever been a part of.”

The council also announced meeting-scheduling changes and other items before adjourning.