HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. Comparision Cities Compensation Data Council Compensation Committee
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 11/13/2025
Item Number: 4a
Estimated Time: 30 Minutes
FROM: Nickole Domini, Human Resources Director
Prepared By: Jeff Andrews, Human Resources Manager
SUBJECT: COMPARISON CITIES COMPENSATION DATA
RECOMMENDATION
1. Receive and file the updated 2025 market survey of council compensation and
advisory body stipends for nine comparison agencies.
2. Provide guidance on any additional information the Committee would like staff to
prepare or present.
DISCUSSION
Based on direction provided by the Council Compensation Committee at the October 22,
2025 meeting, staff updated the 2025 City Council and Mayor compensation analysis.
Staff added columns to show the hourly salary for Mayor and City Council. The
hourly salaries for each comparison city are based on the average hours per week
worked, as reported by the comparison agencies. If an agency reported a range of
working hours, staff used the average of the range (e.g., if “20-30 hours” was
reported, staff used 25 hours). For agencies that did not report working hours, staff
used an overall average of 20 hours for those agencies.
Staff added a column describing how an agency determines Mayor and City
Council salaries. This information was gathered from item 4b from the Council
Compensation Committee meeting convened on September 30, 2025.
Staff added columns to show annual Mayor and City Council salary by Population
and Median Household Income. The committee also requested to look at city
budgets compared to salaries, but that data was statistically insignificant as the
city budgets are highly inflated compared to annual salaries.
Lastly, a third sheet was added to show fully burdened staffing costs for Mayor and
Council Members at the City of San Luis Obispo. Staffing costs do not include
mileage reimbursement allowances, home internet allowance s, or professional
development budgets.
Human Resources staff will be available to walk the committee through the updates and
answer questions.
ATTACHMENTS
A. 2025 Comparison Cities
Page 5 of 68
Page 6 of 68
CITY
GENERAL/CHARTER
LAW CITY
POPULATION
(Census 7/1/2024
Est.)
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD
INCOME
(Census 2019-23)
MEDIAN HOME
SALES PRICE
(Zillow, May 2025)
ANNUAL CITY
BUDGET 25-26
UNFUNDED
PENSION
LIABILITY
MAYOR -
ELECTED OR
ROTATED
EXPECTED TIMES PER
MONTH CITY COUNCIL
MEETS
ACTUAL TIMES PER MONTH
CITY COUNCIL MEETS
PAY FOR PLANNING
COMMISSION
PAY FOR ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN COMMITTEE PAY FOR OTHER ADVISORY BODIES
Chico Charter 113,847 $67,929 $455,300 $204,400,000 $177,135,109 Rotated 2 2or 3 No No No
Davis General 65,832 $89,386 $866,417 $250,605,639 Rotated 2 Varies No no no
Monterey Charter 29,015 $104,110 $1,167,901 $120,713,605 $90,774,723 Elected 2 or 3 2 or 3
$25/meeting, up to
$75/month $25/meeting, up to $75/month
Most bodies: $25/meeting, up to $75/month;
A few bodies: $25/meeting, up to $50/month;
Two specific bodies: $0
Napa Charter 79,339 $103,601 $911,583 $163,192,210 $230,000,000 Elected 2 2 $100/meeting No Housing Authority - $50 per meeting
Paso Robles General 31,061 $93,098 $759,695 $143,579,600 $46,060,255 Elected 2 2 No No No
Santa Barbara Charter 88,665 $106,800 $1,939,000 $692,711,154 Elected 4
usually 4- 8, including special
meetings approx $50/25 meeting approx $50/25 meeting
approx $50/25 meeting for design review
boards
Santa Cruz Charter 62,581 $111,427 $1,281,111 $533,800,000 Elected 2 2 $75/meeting N/A $75/meeting
Santa Maria Charter 109,987 $77,564 $642,333 $346,865,306 Elected Did not report Did not report Did not report
Ventura Charter 109,058 $97,970 $895,667 $637,325,749 Rotated 2 2 or 3 No No No
City of San Luis Obispo Charter 49,729 $66,711 $1,028,333 $217,614,410 ~$192M Elected 2 2
$86/meeting, up to
$347/mo $86/meeting, up to $347/mo No
Average 76,598 94,654$ 991,001$ $185,766,588 $135,992,522
Median 79339 $97,970 $895,667 $250,605,639 $133,954,916
Compensation for Other Commissions or Advisory BodiesComparison City Demographics and Meeting Information
City of San Luis Obispo Council and Advisory Body Compensation Survey 2025
Page 7 of 68
CITY
GENERAL/CHARTER LAW
CITY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT MAYOR SALARY / MONTH MAYOR SALARY / HOUR
CITY COUNCIL SALARY /
MONTH
CITY COUNCIL SALARY /
HOUR
HOURS PER WEEK CITY
COUNCIL WORKS Annual Pay/Population Annual Pay/Median Income How Comp is Determined
CAFETERIA
CONTRIBUTION/MONTH CAFETERIA PLAN OPT OUT RETIREMENT FORMULA LIFE INSURANCE
AMOUNT REIMBURSED FOR
CITY BUSINESS/YEAR
MILEAGE ALLOWANCE
(Current IRS = $0.70/mile)OTHER ALLOWANCES
DATE CITY COUNCIL
COMPENSATION UPDATED
Chico Charter $2,280 $48 $1,920 $40 11 $0.24 $0.40
Follows state law (comp based
on population)
Employee: $682.49
Employee +1 $1,472.96
Employee =2 or more
$1,888.10
No allowed per government
code N/A N/A
Davis General
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $1,366 $16 $1,366 $16 20 $0.25 $0.18
Follows state law (comp based
on population)
Monterey Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $1,418 $16 $965 $11 20 $0.59 $0.16
Comp based on amount set
forth in Municipal Code
Employee: $997
Employee+1: $2,040
Family: $2,636 $300
2.7% @ 55 for Classic
Members
2% @ 62 for PEPRA
Members
$65,000 provided by City;
Employee can purchase
higher coverage
The only current reimbursement
that applies to the Council is the
Employee Travel policy, and the
amount is set annually in the
budget. For FY 25/26 the amount
is $11,300 to cover travel and
meetings for all 5 members of
Council. We are planning to bring
a Council-specific travel policy
(and new amount) to the Council
soon for consideration.
n/a, actual mileage is
reimbursed (pursuant to
budget limitations)
health, dental, vision, life,
disability (short term and long
term) insurance coverage and
other optional open-enrollment
benefits; fitness membership
at City-owned facility; City-
issued laptop
Current amount: Sept 2023;
Effective 2027 amount: June
2025
Napa Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $2,870 $33 $1,435 $17 20 $0.43 $0.33
Comp based on amount set
forth in Municipal Code
Single: $874 health, $53
dental
2-party: $1,748 health, $90
dental
Family: $2,325 health, $138
dental $500
Tier 1: 2.7% at 55
Tier 2: 2.0% at 60
Tier 3/PEPRA/Council:
2.0% at 62
+3% cost share $100,000 Life and AD&D
For actual and necessary
expenses incurred in the conduct
of events separately approved by
City Council. Mayor: Equal to a
maximum of $1,500 per month
with an annual maximum of
$6,600 per year. Councilmember:
Equal to a maximum of $1,300
per month with an annual
maximum of $5,400 per year.
Auto allowance: $475/month
Retiree Health $347/mopnth
401 Deferred Comp
$300/month
2018 but will receive raise
after 2026 election to $1,900
mo for Council and $3,800 for
Mayor
Paso Robles General
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $1,540 $24 $1,155 $18 15 $0.59 $0.20
Follows state law (comp based
on population)
2025 Health -
EE: $813.24
EE+1: $1,569.73
Fam: $2,324.33
Dental -
EE: 100% covered ($35.30)
EE+1>: 96% covered ($83.70)
Vision -
100% covered all levels
($25.40)
Not allowed per government
code N/A N/A $5000 travel and training 250
City issued phone and
computer Jan-25
Santa Barbara Charter
Council - Mayor -
Administrator $6,609 $61 $5,287 $49 25 $0.89 $0.74
Comp set by Charter: mayor
receives annual salary equal to
100% of annual area median
income (AMI), 80% of AMI for
council members.$1,731.62
2.7% @ 55 for Classic
Members
2% @ 62 for PEPRA
Members $50,000
Mayor: $1,143/mo
Council: $789/mo
Santa Cruz Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $3,421 $32 $1,710 $16 25 $0.66 $0.37
Comp based on amount set
forth in Municipal Code $200
$350/month vehicle allowance
$35.00/month data stipend
$35.00/Month Cell stipend May-25
Santa Maria Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $1,957 $23 $1,707 $20 20 $0.21 $0.30
Comp based on amount set
forth in Municipal Code; Mayor
received $250 more than
council members Optional through CalPERS "Reasonable Expenses"
Ventura Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $700 $6 $600 $6 25 $0.08 $0.09
Comp set by Charter: council
members receive $600
monthly, mayor receives
additional $100 monthly
Employee: $772
Employee+1: $983
Family: $1,293
Not allowed per government
code N/A N/A
$100 per month for Authorized
travel and other expenses while
on official duty.
City-paid dental, vision, EAP,
City issued smart phone and
laptop FY2010--11
San Luis Obispo Charter
Council - Mayor - City
Manager $2,923 $27 $2,319 $21 25 $0.71 $0.53
Comp set by Charter, allows
biennial CPI increases
Employee: $735
Employee+1: $1,470
Family: $1,911
$200 (must opt out of
health/dental/vision)
Tier 1: 2.7% at 55
Tier 2: 2.0% at 60
Tier 3/PEPRA/Council:
2.0% at 62 $104,000
$3,200 Mayor
$2,700 Council
$150 Mayor
$100 Council
$50/month home internet; City-
issued mobile phone May-24
Median $2,118 $25 $1,571 $17
Did not report; using average
of 20 hours
City of San Luis Obispo Council and Advisory Body Compensation Survey 2025
Page 8 of 68
Mayor Staffing Budget Costs (Annual)Amount
AD&D Insurance $49.92
Base Wage $35,076
Life Insurance - Class 1 - CCM $212.16
Medicare $508.60
Total $35,846.68
Council Staffing Budget Costs (Annual)Amount
AD&D Insurance $49.92
Base Wage $27,828
Life Insurance - Class 1 - CCM $212.16
Medicare $403.51
Total $28,493.59
CalPERS Retirement (optional)*Amount
Classic or PEPRA 9.74%
Health Flex Contribution*Annual
Opt Out $2,400
Employee Only $8,820
Employee +1 $17,640
Employee +Family $22,932
*If opted in, cost to the City is 9.74% of base wage ($3,416
for Mayor, $2,710 for Council Members); Current group of
elected officials generally opt out of CalPERS retirement
*Current group of elected officials generally opt out of health
Page 9 of 68