I. RECOMMENDATION:
There is no staff recommendation. This item was requested as a Future Agenda Item by Councilman Adkisson.
II. BACKGROUND:
Councilman Adkisson has requested a future agenda item to discuss reducing City Council pay by $50 per month for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
If approved, Council pay would be reduced from $300 per month to $250 per month.
III. DISCUSSION:
According to California Government Code Section 36516 (a), the Council may reduce the salaries of City Council Members. However, Section 365165 states that any change in compensation does not apply to a currently seated Council Member during his or her term of office. Therefore, any change in salary would only effect a newly seated Council Member following the reduction.
The Council may vote to reduce pay by Ordinance, but it will not take effect during the term of the sitting Council Members as the involuntary change in salary would contradict their assumed contract.
If Council wishes to reduce pay by Ordinance, which would impact any newly seated City Council Members at the start of their terms, staff needs Council direction to bring back an Ordinance for consideration.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
1. Leave City Council Member pay at $300 per month;
2. Each City Council Member can individually and voluntarily waive whatever portion of their salaries they wish per Government Code Section 36516(f). In order to do so, any interested Council Member would need to contact Human Resources and sign a Personnel Action form noting the reduction.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
None at this time. However, if Council directs staff to bring back at Ordinance to reduce Council Pay for newly seated City Council Members, the impact in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 would be approximately $600 to the City's General Fund. |