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Council debates pay ordinance for mayor and council; attorney flags election-cycle limits
Summary
The council discussed an ordinance to set compensation for the mayor and council (per‑meeting reimbursements) and heard legal guidance that state law prevents sitting members from immediately receiving raises until after election cycles.
Council members debated an ordinance that would establish compensation for the mayor and council, with proposed per‑meeting amounts discussed in the packet.
A speaker identified in the record as the city attorney told the council that state law requires changes to be adopted before the end of the calendar year but that any pay changes cannot be applied to sitting officials until those officials have gone through an election cycle. The attorney said, "there is a provision of local government code that does not allow this to take effect until you've served your term."
Proponents said the measure is intended to reimburse travel and meeting-related expenses rather than serve as a raise; council members discussed a range of dollar figures (examples in the packet included $100 to $400 depending on meeting type). A motion to approve the ordinance was made and seconded; the transcript records the motion being placed on the table for consideration.
