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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/2020 Item 9, SchiffmannCALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT P.O. Box 3480, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93130; PH. (805) 845-9289 Mayor Heidi Harmon City Council City of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Re: _ Council Compensation Dear Mayor Harmon and Members of the Council. January 29, 2020 REC,f_1VED JAN 31 10?� SLO C_FFY The California Voting Rights Project is a statewide organization that seeks greater diversity on city councils and in other government agencies. Our primary focus is single - member district elections, but we also support reasonable proposals to increase local official compensation. We support the proposal .to raise the base pay compensation for the Mayor of San Luis Obispo from $1,725.00 per month to $2,508.00 per month, and to raise the base pay compensation for the Members of the City Council from $1,224.00 to $1,990.00 per month, not including benefits and reimbursement for expenses. Serving effectively on the City Council requires dozens of hours of work per week, and thousands of hours of work during the four-year elected term. To enable working and middle income people to serve on the City Council, it is appropriate to increase base Council pay. Ultimately, the California Voting RIghts Project believes that single -member district elections, combined with higher Council pay, will lead to the best and most diverse City Council in San Luis Obispo. Other nearby cities, including the City of Goleta, have raised Council compensation with positive results. Thank you for your consideration, and for your service to the community. Sincerely, Nik Schiffniann Outreach Coordinator:/ San Luis Obispo cc: Robert Goodman, Esq. Christine Dietrick; City Attorney