HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/24/2026 Item 4a, Pinard (2)
Peg Pinard <pinardmat@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Fwd: Consistency in Comparison Standards: Rents and Administrative Compensation
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Peg Pinard <
Date: Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Subject: Consistency in Comparison Standards: Rents and Administrative Compensation
To: <ecouncil@slocity.org>
Cc: Sandra Rowley < , Adian Lenz < , Cathy Owen
< , <staff@slocaor.org>
Subject: Consistency in Comparison Standards: Rents and Administrative Compensation
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I would like to add one additional observation to my earlier message regarding the use of comparison
data in evaluating housing policy.
Recent City communications emphasize that San Luis Obispo rents are significantly higher than state
and national averages. Those broad comparisons present the local housing market as unusually
expensive and are being used to justify additional programs and regulatory measures.
However, when administrative compensation is evaluated or salary adjustments are considered, the
comparison framework typically shifts. Compensation is usually compared to similar California or
coastal jurisdictions rather than national averages.
To illustrate how comparison standards change depending on what is being evaluated, here are simple
side-by-side comparisons based on publicly available municipal salary reports and rental market data.
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Average Monthly Rent: Comparable Coastal University Communities
San Luis Obispo: about $3,200
Santa Cruz: about $3,000–$3,300
Santa Barbara: about $3,400–$3,900
When compared to similar coastal communities, San Luis Obispo rents fall within the expected range
and below Santa Barbara.
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Administrative Compensation: Cities Around 50,000 Population (National Comparison)
City Manager
National mid-size average: $120,000–$200,000
San Luis Obispo: about $300,000 base
Department Heads
National mid-size average: $110,000–$180,000
San Luis Obispo: about $210,000–$230,000+
Comparable metrics should be evaluated against comparable peer groups.
I would also note a concern regarding notice and outreach. This proposal directly affects rental property
owners, yet there appears to have been little notification even though the City already maintains contact
information through existing business license and tax records. Functional contact systems already exist
and are already funded through rents, yet they were not used - making meaningful participation difficult.
Sincerely,
Peg Pinard
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