AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: JOY POST
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
SUBJECT:
title
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES TO ADJUST THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY CLERK, AND CITY TREASURER COMPENSATION
summary
Summary:
The City Council’s current salary rate of $794.40 per month was last established by Ordinance No. 2024-05-1546, and the City Clerk and City Treasurer’s current salary rate of $482.04 was last established by Ordinance No. 2024-05-1547. The City of Signal Hill Charter Section 304 provides that City Council, Clerk, and Treasurer compensation may periodically be adjusted by ordinance. At the City Council meeting of June 23, 2026, the City Council directed staff to prepare ordinances for introduction to adjust the City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer compensation in accordance with City Charter and applicable State law. The City held and approved the introduction and first reading of the ordinances at the July 14, 2026, City Council meeting.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
1. Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-07-1558, entitled
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA ADJUSTING THE COMPENSATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW
2. Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-07-1559, entitled
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA ADJUSTING COMPENSATION FOR CITY CLERK AND CITY TREASURER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW
body
Fiscal Impact:
There is minimal fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions. The proposed increase in compensation would be included in the current and future operating budgets.
Background:
Government Code Section 36516(c) establishes compensation levels for city council based on the population of the city and allows for annual increases equivalent to a five percent adjustment in salary for each calendar year from the operative date of the last salary adjustment. The adjustment is a straight percentage-based calculation, and the five percent increments cannot be compounded. The Government Code provides that a salary adjustment may only become effective upon the beginning of a new term of office of one or more of the members of the City Council. The Signal Hill City Charter provides that City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer compensation may be periodically adjusted by Ordinance.
At the City Council Budget Workshop meeting on May 19, 2026, the City Council requested staff place an item on a future agenda for discussion. Following the discussion at June 23, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare the attached ordinances.
At the July 14, 2026, City Council Meeting, the City Council gave the first reading and introduction of the ordinances to effectuate an increase in compensation for the City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.
Analysis:
Although Signal Hill is a Charter City, it voluntarily follows the annual compensation limits established for general law cities. Based on the calculation stipulated in Government Code Section 36517, the City Council may authorize an increase of $79.44 per month for each City Council member, increasing monthly compensation from $794.40 to 873.84 effective December 8, 2026, following the General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026. The City Council also approved the proposed increase of $48.20 per month for the City Clerk and City Treasurer increasing their monthly compensation from $482.04 to $530.24. For the City Council’s information, the following tables summarize the City’s compensation history since 2019.
At the regular City Council meeting of May 24, 2024, City Council approved Resolution 2024-05-6800, adopting a policy implementing a procedure for the periodic review of City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer Compensation Adjustment. Adjusting the City Council compensation in a timely manner increases the efficiency of municipal operations. In previous years, staff proposed similar annual reviews to coincide during the annual Budget Workshop. This proposed timeline provides for the most efficient process.
Next Steps:
Staff recommends the City Council proceed with the Second Reading and adoption of each Ordinance to effectuate an increase in compensation for the City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer (Attachments A and B). If adopted, the City Clerk’s office would properly notice the summary of each ordinance in the local newspaper in compliance with SHMC Section 1.08.010 on or before July 31, 2026. The Ordinances would become effective thirty days after the Second Reading and Adoption. The compensation adjustments would become operative after the next general election on December 8, 2026, in accordance with State law.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Attachment(s):
A. Ordinance No. 2026-07-1558
B. Ordinance No. 2026-07-1559