Planning commission asks staff to prepare options to change commissioner stipend to per-meeting pay

Members of the Ceres Planning Commission asked staff to return to a future meeting with options to change the commissioner stipend from a monthly payment to a per-meeting payment and asked for a fiscal breakdown of the annual cost.

Chairperson Condit raised the issue during new business noting two recent absences and suggesting the commission should "start fresh" on attendance enforcement. A commissioner suggested switching to per-meeting pay to make service more accessible to people who rely on stipends for childcare and related costs. "Sometimes I use my stipend for childcare so I can attend," the commissioner said, arguing a per-meeting payment could help broaden participation.

Nubia (staff) and Kelsey (consultant) said the commission could prepare a planning commission resolution and a staff report for the City Council and that the planning department could present several options. The item, if adopted as a resolution by the commission, would be a recommendation to the City Council rather than a direct change to payroll policy.

Commissioners requested that the staff report include a breakdown showing total annual stipend costs and how payments would change under alternate schedules. The commission reached consensus to place a formal stipend-options report on a future agenda.