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Council asks staff for compensation comparisons, CPI data and alternative per‑meeting models
Summary
Council debated updating council compensation (last changed in 1999). Several members supported a modest percentage increase (2.5–3%) or alternative per‑meeting/committee reimbursements; staff was directed to return with peer comparisons, CPI averages and draft ordinance options.
The City Council discussed potential updates to council compensation during the Nov. 13 meeting and directed staff to return with further information rather than adopting a change immediately.
Assistant City Manager AJ Johnson Newton reminded the council that compensation is currently a per‑meeting stipend of $250 for councilmembers and $350 for the mayor (caps apply) and that the city code has not been updated since 1999. State law allows compensation to be set either by ordinance or by convening an independent salary commission; the staff memo focused on ordinance options and explained that changes could not take effect for incumbents mid‑term.
Councilmembers offered differing views: several (including Councilmember Grace Matsui and Deputy Mayor Steinmetz) favored a small percentage increase in the 2.5–3% range or alternative measures to reduce barriers for candidates, while Councilmember Harris argued against raising elected officials’ pay during tight fiscal conditions and suggested alternative reimbursement structures for travel or committee service. Several members asked staff to collect comparative data from peer cities, calculate a 20‑year average CPI and return with draft ordinance language or per‑meeting/committee reimbursement options.
Why it matters: compensation adjustments affect candidate accessibility and the council’s ability to reimburse travel and committee service; staff will return with analysis and draft ordinance options for council consideration.
