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Council opens public hearing and advances ordinance changing elected-official pay cadence
Summary
Councilors introduced and adopted on first reading an ordinance to change council and certain elected-official compensation to a twice-monthly pay schedule tied to attendance and required filings; staff said it does not increase total monthly pay but changes the cadence and enforcement.
The Red Bluff City Council opened a public hearing Feb. 17 and advanced an ordinance (first reading) that adjusts how elected officials receive compensation and ties eligibility to attendance and required filings.
City staff attorney Scott Garrison said the draft ordinance expands the compensation rules beyond council members to include other elected officers (clerk and treasurer) and changes monthly compensation to a bi-monthly payment schedule. "As the council members know, you received $950 a month in compensation," Garrison said, adding the ordinance would distribute that pay in two installments and make failure to attend a scheduled meeting or to complete required forms or trainings a cause to withhold the installment(s) until the requirement is met.
Garrison said the ordinance also proposes that the clerk and treasurer — who currently receive $300 a month — could lose eligibility for compensation if they fail to submit required minutes or reports within 60 days. He told the council the language was revised to be more collegial and clear after earlier drafts prompted feedback.
Council Member Chris, who helped draft the revisions with staff, said the changes were intended to be fair and to clarify responsibilities: "We just tried to clean up the language, make it a little more clear," Chris said, noting the change was motivated by prior conduct he and staff had observed.
The council opened and closed the public hearing (no substantive public testimony). Cassie Pope moved to adopt item 1 (the ordinance introduction/first reading); Mark Clement seconded and the council approved the motion on a unanimous roll-call vote. The ordinance will return for subsequent readings as required by municipal procedure.
