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Brooklyn Park council debates mayoral and council pay increase; asks staff for comparative research
Summary
Councilors discussed a Charter Commission recommendation to raise mayor and council pay (and revisit the $50 per-day supplemental stipend), debated timing amid an election year, and asked staff to return with comparative data and suggested numbers for 2027 implementation after the next election.
The council discussed whether to increase mayor and council compensation following a Charter Commission recommendation and a staff memo describing comparative pay across peer cities.
Staff said the Charter Commission recommended raising lower salaries for the council and mayoral positions and noted the $50-per-day supplemental compensation dates to the 1970s. Council members divided over timing: some argued for acting now to reflect the mayor's effectively full-time workload and to broaden who can run for office, while others warned the optics of discussing pay during an election year could prompt public criticism. One council member said they were "very hesitant to have conversations about decisions at this level with the correlation of outcome of an election." Another said the mayor is "underpaid in Brooklyn Park." (Attributions: council speakers as identified in the meeting.)
Council asked staff to return with updated comparative figures, analysis of hours and duties, and suggested salary numbers and to consider whether the per-day supplemental compensation and effective date (commonly after the next election) should be adjusted. Staff noted most peer-city changes take effect after the next citywide election and that the council could modify the Charter Commission recommendation when it votes on any pay changes.
No formal vote was taken; members provided direction and the city will follow up with research to support a future decision.
