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Commission recommends $500 monthly stipend for council, $750 for mayor to appear on charter
Summary
After extended debate about equity, turnout and voter history, the commission voted to recommend a charter amendment that would set council compensation at $500 per month and mayor compensation at $750 per month; language and timing will be refined by the city attorney before returning to the commission.
The Charter Review Commission voted to recommend an amendment to Section 3.04 to add compensation for elected officials: $500 per month for council members and $750 per month for the mayor (a 1.5 multiplier). Chair presented the three-option framework (monthly stipend of $500, $1,000 or $2,000) and asked members to indicate preferences; the majority favored the $500/month option as a pragmatic number likely to win voter approval while recognizing equity concerns about enabling broader participation.
Commission discussion covered prior ballot history (a similar proposal failed in a previous election), equity and access (whether a stipend would reduce barriers for lower-income residents), and performance/accountability (members debated linking pay to attendance or other metrics). Several members proposed tying future adjustments to a review or committee rather than hard-coding escalating figures in the charter.
After a motion and second, the commission adopted the $500/$750 monthly stipend proposal by voice vote and instructed city staff and the city attorney to prepare the amendment language and ballot materials. The commission also clarified that reimbursements for expenses (mileage, conferences) would remain in place and discussed whether pay would begin immediately if the amendment passed; the group left timing to attorney guidance and standard charter amendment procedures.
