AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT:
title
CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION
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Summary:
The City Council will discuss compensation levels for members of the City Council and provide staff with direction.
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:
Discuss City Council compensation and provide direction to staff.
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Fiscal Impact:
None.
Background:
At the City Council meeting of March 12, 2024, the City Council requested staff place this item on the agenda for the meeting of March 26, 2024. The City Charter provides that City Council compensation may be periodically adjusted by Ordinance. California State law provides that charter cities are not limited in the compensation that may be paid to members of the City Council. However, the City of Signal Hill City Council has voluntarily followed State compensation levels for General Law cities.
Government Code Section 36516 establishes compensation levels for city councils based on the population of the city, allowing for annual increases equivalent to five percent per year since the last increase. Any adjustments to compensation should be a straight percentage calculation, since 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.
In 2019, the City Council approved a compensation adjustment from $667.44 to $694.14 per month effective December 8, 2020, following the General Municipal Election on November 3, 2020. In 2021, the City Council approved a compensation adjustment from $694.14 to $722.18 per month effective December 13, 2022, following the General Municipal Election on November 8, 2022.
As noted, staff included this item on the agenda for initial discussion. Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the City’s Manual of Procedural Guidelines, if a majority of the City Council supports placing this item on a subsequent agenda for final action, staff would provide a more detailed agenda report.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Sharon del Rosario