HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/21/2002, 7 - COUNCIL COMPENSATION council `o
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CITYOF SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: Council Compensation Committee
Prepared By: Lee Price, City Cler ^
SUBJECT: COUNCIL COMPENSATION
CAO RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution Setting New Salaries for the Mayor and Council Members.
2. Appropriate $3,000 for Fiscal Year 2000-01 from the unreserved General Fund balance in
order to fund the compensation change.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of San Luis Obispo's Charter (Section 410) requires that a Council Compensation
Committee be formed during even numbered years to review Mayor and Council Members'
compensation and recommend any adjustments, if appropriate,for the following two-year period.
The Committee is required to bring back its recommendation(s) in resolution form to the Council
no later than May 151
On January 18' the Council appointed the following five members to the Council Compensation
Committee: Dean Miller, Kathy Smith, Marcy Villa, Dodie Williams and Pierre Rademaker,
who served as Chair. The Committee met twice and reviewed the full Council compensation
package including salary, benefits, expense reimbursement, professional development allowances
and other compensation provided. In addition, the Committee compared the Council's
compensation package with that of the mayors and council members in nine other California
cities (charter and general law), and examined the responsibilities of the Mayor and Council
Members in San Luis Obispo. Also considered was a request by a Council Member to look at
adding a cash back payment provision in lieu of unused benefits, similar to what is offered for
City employees.
Committee Recommendations:
Based on a thorough analysis and discussion, the Council Compensation Committee makes the
following recommendations:
1. The compensation package for expense allowances, benefits and professional development is
adequate and should remain unchanged.
2. The monthly salaries of the Mayor and Council Members should be increased by $100 per
month. This conclusion represents agreement that while salaries for elected officials
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generally do not reflect the true value of the position, in San Luis Obispo the Mayor and
Council are indeed hard-working, dedicated individuals worthy of recognition for their
service to the community.
3. After evaluating the practice in other cities and debating the matter of cash back in lieu of
unused benefits, the Committee agreed that elected officials are not considered `employees',
but viewed, rather, more like volunteers. The Committee, therefore, makes no
recommendation to add a cash back provision.
FISCAL IMPACT
The increase to salaries will increase the Council annual budget for Fiscal Year 00-01 by$3,000.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Setting Salaries
Minutes of the Council Compensation Committee
City Council Compensation Survey