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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 Chapter Two - Council CompensationExcerpt from the City of San Luis Obispo, California, City Council Policies & Procedures see www.slocity.org (City Clerk page for the whole document). CHAPTER TWO COUNCIL COMPENSATION Council compensation and benefits are established every other year by Council action after the Council Compensation Committee conducts a biennial review and makes a recommendation. See Section 6 of this Chapter. 2.1 SALARIES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS Effective January 1, 2001, compensation for services rendered in an official capacity shall be provided as follows: Members of the City Council shall receive $900 per month; and the Mayor shall receive a monthly salary of $1,100. (Res. 9035, 2000 series). 2.2 RETIREMENT, MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, AND LIFE INSURANCE The Mayor and Council Members shall be entitled to city-funded participation in P.E.R.S. retirement. The City shall contribute $420 per month toward the Mayor and Council Members participation in PEMCHA, dental, vision and life insurance. Any unexpended amount shall not be distributed to the Mayor and Council Members in cash. 2.3 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Allowances shall be budgeted for the Mayor and each Council Member as follows: 2.3.1 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT For costs of professional development and educational conferences designed to improve understanding of and proficiency in municipal affairs. Said allowance shall be used for out-of-county expenses only and shall be reimbursed in accordance with accepted City Travel Guidelines: Annual Allowance: Council Member $1500 Mayor $1800 2.3.2 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES CONFERENCE For the cost of participating in the Annual Conference of the League of California Cities. The City shall also reimburse the following costs for spousal participation, which is encouraged: - Double room instead of a single room. - Spousal registration fees to attend Conference seminars (this does not include reimbursement for recreational activities that may be offered by the League during meeting activities). - Travel expenses only if a bus, train, or plane must be used rather than a city vehicle. If the public official uses his/her personal vehicle, travel reimbursement shall be provided only the employee. - Meals that spouses are expected to attend as part of directly-related Conference activities will be reimbursed at the same per diem as the public official. 2.3.3 CHANNEL COUNTIES DIVISION MEETINGS When the spouse of an official or employee is expected to attend a quarterly meeting of the Channel Counties Division of the League, the meal expense will be paid by the City with the authorization of the City Administrative Officer. 2.3.4 START-UP ALLOWANCE An additional professional development allowance up to $1,000 shall be budgeted to each new Mayor and Council Member to help accelerate his/her comprehension of municipal and legislative operations during the first 12 months following the taking of office. 2.4 CITY BUSINESS AND MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT Quarterly allowances shall be budgeted for the Mayor and each Council Member as follows: 2.4.1 CITY BUSINESS For costs incurred in connection with official City business. Said allowance shall be used for in-county expenses and shall include all meals, tickets, periodicals, dues, subscriptions, and similar miscellaneous expenses. Quarterly Expense Allowance: Council Member $300 Mayor $450 2.4.2 MILEAGE For official travel within the County of San Luis Obispo, reimbursement shall be made upon submittal of an official mileage expense form: Quarterly Mileage Allowance: Council Member $300 Mayor $450 2.5 GENERAL PROCEDURES AND LIMITATIONS Appropriate budgetary practices and accounting controls shall be established to ensure that expenditures and reimbursements are in compliance with approved budget allocations. The Mayor and each Council Member is expected to plan business activities so as to stay within his/her budget. When exceptional circumstances require that additional amounts be allocated to accounts, formal Council action shall be required. 2.5.1 ACCOUNTING An account shall be established in the name of each Council Member with all expenditures charged to the individual Council Member or Mayor. If any account is depleted prior to the end of the fiscal year, additional allocations shall require a specific action of the City Council. Claims for reimbursement as specified in Section 4, above, may be submitted monthly but the aggregate of three monthly claims may not exceed the quarterly maximum. Receipts shall be submitted within the fiscal year. The Council budget shall be available for review in the City Clerk's Office and the Mayor and Council Members shall receive periodic statements. 2.5.2 REIMBURSEMENT LIMITATION The City's adopted Travel Guidelines shall govern all expenditures for non-local professional development and conferences. These guidelines include all non-local official meals, tuition or fees, transportation to meeting sites, materials and telephone usage. 2.5.3 SPECIAL EXPENSES For occasions when the Mayor and/or a Council Member is designated by the City Council to represent the City at special meetings, reimbursement shall be made from an unallocated Travel Expense Account. 2.5.4 HONORARIUM If the Mayor or a Council Member receives an honorarium as a result of his/her participation in a meeting or conference, the amount of the honorarium shall be deducted from the amount normally provided by the City for that meeting or conference if the City paid for the Council Member's attendance at such meeting or conference. 2.5.5 OTHER GUIDELINES Any other travel-related issue not specifically governed in this resolution shall be adjudicated in accordance with the City of San Luis Obispo adopted Travel Guidelines. 2.6 COUNCIL COMPENSATION COMMITTEE A five-member review committee shall be appointed by January 31, in even-numbered years and shall bring its proposed recommendations in resolution form to the City Council within 90 days, or no later than May 1st. 2.6.1 MEMBERSHIP The committee membership shall have as broad a representation as possible, including but not limited to, one previously elected official, one Personnel Board member, and one citizen-at-large. 2.6.2 REVIEW RESPONSIBILITY The committee shall review the full Council compensation package including salary, benefits, expense reimbursement, professional development allowances and any other compensation provided the City Council. Review should include, but shall not be limited to: 1) compensation of Council and Mayors of cities of similar population/budget size; 2) compensation practices of both Charter and General Law cities; 3) Government Code provisions for General Law cities; and 4) Council and Mayor responsibilities in San Luis Obispo at the time of the committee's review; and, 5) any structural changes that may have occurred in municipal government either as a result of State legislation or by actions of the local electorate that may have added to or deducted from the duties and responsibilities of the Council Members and/or Mayor.