HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 CAR - PC and ARC Compensation
FROM: Lee Price, City Clerk
SUBJECT: COUNCIL COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REVIEW OF THE CURRENT
COMPENSATION FOR PLANNING COMMISSION AND ARCHITECTURAL
REVIEW COMMISSION MEMBERS
CAO RECOMMENDATION
As recommended by the 2004 Council Compensation Committee, make no change to the current
compensation for members of the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission.
DISCUSSION
In 2001, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 9189 increasing the compensation for Planning
Commission and Architectural Review Commission members from $25 per meeting to $50 per
meeting, not to exceed $200/monthly (see Attachment #1). The resolution also provides that the
Council shall review the compensation for both advisory bodies in conjunction with its periodic
review of Council compensation, as set forth in the Council Polices and Procedures.
As outlined in a separate Council Agenda Report on this same agenda (Item C-4), the Council
appointed a citizen committee to review the Council’s compensation earlier this year. The
Committee met on February 19th and considered, in addition to Council compensation matters,
the current compensation for members of the Planning Commission and Architectural Review
Commission. As part of the review, the Committee examined survey results prepared by the City
Clerk of what other cities, both general law and Charter, around the State are paying their
Planning Commissions and Architectural (or Design) Review Committees, if they have them. A
copy of the survey results is attached as Attachment #2. A summary of the survey results
demonstrated the following:
• 55 California cities (general law and Charter) pay their Planning Commissioners a
monthly salary in amounts ranging from $20/month to $269/month. Typically, like in
San Luis Obispo, Planning Commissions meet twice per month. The average (15 cities,
including SLO) pay members of the Commission $100 per month.
• Only six California cities reported that they pay members of an Architectural Review
Commission (or something comparable), if they even have one. The salaries ranged from
$40/month to $160/month. The salary paid ARC members in SLO is about mid-range.
The Committee considered the survey results, the City’s financial condition and the fact that the
salaries were increased in 2001. Given these factors, the Committee recommended no change to
the compensation for members of the Planning Commission and the ARC. The following is an
excerpt from the Minutes of the Council Compensation Committee Meeting of 2/19/04:
Council Agenda Report—Council Compensation Committee Review of Current Compensation for
Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission Members
Page 2
5. Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission (ARC) Stipends
City Clerk Price presented a summary of a survey of General Law and Charter Cities Survey
relating to Planning Commission and ARC stipends. She noted that SLO pays what appears
to be the average stipend for Planning Commissioners statewide and, further, pointed out
that only a few cities pay members of the ARC at all. Committee members mutually agreed
that members of the public who choose to volunteer to serve the City in either capacity do it
for reasons other than monetary benefit. The Committee decided that both advisory bodies
are appropriately compensated at this time and took no action to formulate a
recommendation to make a change.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact given the Committee’s recommendation to make no change in
compensation.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Modify the compensation and direct staff to return with a resolution formalizing the
change.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 9189 (2001 Series)
2. Survey of Cities
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