Woodland Hills council approves ordinance updating pay for elected officials and staff raises

The Woodland Hills City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026‑11 amending the city’s compensation schedule during its June 9, 2026 meeting.

The ordinance, which the council moved to adopt during the regular meeting after a work‑session discussion, sets new compensation parameters for elected officials and includes planned percentage increases for several staff positions. Council members Jones, Hutchkins, Rhoden and Lunt voted in favor when the measure was called; the roll call recorded those four affirmative votes. The motion was made by Council Member Rhoden and seconded by Council Member Lunt.

Why it matters: Council members and the mayor framed the changes as a correction to years of under‑compensation for staff and a modest alignment of elected officials’ stipends with peer cities. Multiple council members emphasized staff workloads, overtime and the legal risks that flow from missed deadlines and incomplete statutory compliance, arguing that modest increases help retain employees and offset overtime costs.

Key details: In public remarks the mayor proposed several percentage adjustments for staff: a 4% raise for the public works director, 12% increases for the city recorder and treasurer, and a 5% increase for a public works technician (Toby). Council also recorded a formal proposal to raise city council monthly stipends from $200 to $300; the mayor described that change as his proposal rather than a self‑initiated council request. The ordinance language adopted at the meeting contains the official pay schedule; public testimony and the on‑the‑record debate clarified the council’s rationale and priorities.

Contentious points: A resident email protesting the increases was read into the record in the earlier public hearing. Council members disputed factual claims in that letter — including an assertion that the ordinance would raise taxes — and said the city had analyzed comparable municipalities and legal obligations. “We did not raise taxes,” a council member stated during the work session, noting that the city had considered and then declined a tax change as part of budget planning. Residents who spoke during public comment expressed a mix of opposition and support: one public commenter voiced concern about elected‑official raises while others, including David Stones, urged recognition of staff responsibilities.

What happens next: The ordinance was adopted at the meeting and will take effect according to the dates specified inside the adopted text. Council members also discussed whether individual officials could donate their increased compensation back to city programs (a council member was advised they could receive the pay and then donate it). The council took no additional amendments to the ordinance on the floor.

Quote (from the meeting): “Our city employees are doing a fantastic job of dealing with the BS that some of our residents have a tendency to bring into this office,” a council member said while supporting staff raises.

Provenance: Topic discussion begins in the work session at SEG 133 and the formal ordinance motion appears at SEG 2443–SEG 2530.