HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.4 Report Regarding City Council and Mayor’s SalariesIP
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DUBLIN
CALIFORNIA
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
Agenda Item 8.4
DATE: February 20, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager
SU B.FCT: Report Regarding City Council and Mayor's Salaries
Prepared by: Marsha Moore, MMC, City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a report regarding potential adjustments to City Councilmembers'
and Mayor's salaries and provide direction.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report and provide direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Should the City Council adopt an increase at the maximum allowed by law, the fiscal impact of a
partial year increase (December 2024 - June 2025), including salary -based taxes and
contributions, would be an increase of $6,050.94. The additional cost for the full year (12 months)
would be $12,101.88. These costs will be included in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2024-25 and 2025-
26 budgets.
DESCRIPTION:
Government Code Section 36516 allows a general law city to provide a salary to City
Councilmembers and an increase in compensation is allowed by ordinance.
Changes to Government Code Section 36516 became effective January 1, 2024, after the adoption
of SB329. The legislation increased the starting amount for salaries approved by ordinance based
on population of the city. With a population between 50,000 and 75,000, the City can set salaries
by ordinance up to and including $1,600 per month.
The Dublin City Council last adjusted salaries for the Mayor in April 2022 and the City Council in
December 2022. The City Council salaries became effective after the November 2022 election. City
Councilmembers' salary is currently set at $1,416.82 per month. Dublin Municipal Code Section
2.08.40 provides an additional amount to the Mayor that is the equivalent to half (50%) of the City
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Councilmember salary per month. The Mayor's current salary is $2,124.23 per month.
With an adjustment of the councilmember salary to the allowed amount of $1,600 per month, the
Mayor's new monthly salary would be $2,400 per month. The total annual increase for the City
Councilmembers' and Mayor's salaries would be $12,101.88.
Staff recommends the City Council reset the councilmember salary to be consistent with state law,
which will be $1,600 per month, unless the City's population increases beyond 75,000 to put the
City in the next population bracket. Staff will prepare an ordinance for introduction at the May 21,
2024, Regular City Council Meeting, followed by the second reading and adoption on June 4, 2024.
The change in compensation will not apply until after the November 2024 election.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Senate Bill 329
2) Government Code Section 36516
3) Dublin Municipal Code Section 2.08.020 and 2.08.040
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Lma, AUTHENTICATED
BUREAU ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL
Attachment I
Senate Bill No. 329
CHAPTER 27
An act to amend Section 36516 of the Government Code, relating to local
government.
[Approved by Governor June 29, 2023. Filed with Secretary of
State June 29, 2023.]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 329, Dodd. Cities: city council members: compensation.
Existing law authorizes a city council to enact an ordinance to provide
each member of the city council a salary based upon the population of the
city, as specified. Existing law authorizes that amount to be increased by
the city council by an amount that does not exceed 5% for each calendar
year from the operative date of the last adjustment of the salary that is in
effect when the increase is enacted. Existing law provides for the procedures
by which a city may enact ordinances.
This bill would increase the maximum amount of salary, based upon the
population of the city, that may be approved by an ordinance passed by the
city council, as specified. The bill would authorize the salary of council
members to be increased beyond the specified maximums to an amount not
exceeding the greater of either 5% for each calendar year from the operative
date of the last adjustment of the salary in effect when the ordinance or
amendment is enacted, or an amount equal to inflation since January 1,
2024, based upon the California Consumer Price Index, which shall not
exceed 10% for each calendar year. The bill would require the city council
to consider the adoption of an ordinance to increase council member
compensation in open session during at least 2 regular meetings of the city
council.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The compensation schedule for general law cities has not been
adjusted since 1984, meaning that city council compensation has not kept
pace with inflation.
(b) Allowing cities to adjust their compensation for inflation since 1984
may help city councils become more diverse because increased compensation
can help individuals from across different income levels receive sufficient
income from their service to help ensure that they can continue to serve the
public and support their families.
SEC. 2. Section 36516 of the Government Code is amended to read:
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Ch. 27 — 2 —
36516. (a) (1) A city council may enact an ordinance providing that
each member of the city council shall receive a salary based on the
population of the city as set forth in paragraph (2).
(2) The salaries approved by ordinance under paragraph (1) shall be as
follows:
(A) In cities up to and including 35,000 in population, up to and including
nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) per month.
(B) In cities over 35,000 up to and including 50,000 in population, up to
and including one thousand two hundred seventy-five dollars ($1,275) per
month.
(C) In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in population, up to
and including one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per month.
(D) In cities over 75,000 up to and including 150,000 in population, up
to and including one thousand nine hundred dollars ($1,900) per month.
(E) In cities over 150,000 up to and including 250,000 in population, up
to and including two thousand five hundred fifty dollars ($2,550) per month.
(F) In cities over 250,000 population, up to and including three thousand
two hundred dollars ($3,200) per month.
(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, the population of a city shall be
determined by the last preceding federal census, or a subsequent census, or
estimate validated by the Department of Finance.
(4) The salary of council members may be increased beyond the amount
provided in this subdivision by an ordinance or by an amendment to an
ordinance, but the amount of the increase shall not exceed the greater of
either of the following:
(A) An amount equal to 5 percent for each calendar year from the
operative date of the last adjustment of the salary in effect when the
ordinance or amendment is enacted.
(B) An amount equal to inflation since January 1, 2024, based upon the
California Consumer Price Index, which shall not exceed 10 percent for
each calendar year.
(5) No ordinance shall be enacted or amended to provide automatic future
increases in salary.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), at any municipal election, the
question of whether city council members shall receive a salary for services,
and the amount of that salary, may be submitted to the electors. If a majority
of the electors voting at the election favor it, all of the council members
shall receive the salary specified in the election call. The salary of council
members may be increased beyond the amount provided in this section or
decreased below the amount in the same manner.
(c) Unless specifically authorized by another statute, a city council may
not enact an ordinance providing for compensation to city council members
in excess of that authorized by the procedures described in subdivisions (a)
and (b). For the purposes of this section, compensation includes payment
for service by a city council member on a commission, committee, board,
authority, or similar body on which the city council member serves. If the
other statute that authorizes the compensation does not specify the amount
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— 3 — Ch. 27
of compensation, the maximum amount shall be one hundred fifty dollars
($150) per month for each commission, committee, board, authority, or
similar body.
(d) Any amounts paid by a city for retirement, health and welfare, and
federal social security benefits shall not be included for purposes of
determining salary under this section, provided that the same benefits are
available and paid by the city for its employees.
(e) Any amounts paid by a city to reimburse a council member for actual
and necessary expenses pursuant to Section 36514.5 shall not be included
for purposes of determining salary pursuant to this section.
(f) A city council member may waive any or all of the compensation
permitted by this section.
(g) (1) For the purposes of this section, a city council shall consider the
adoption of an ordinance to increase compensation in open session during
at least two regular meetings of the city council.
(2) At the first meeting, the city council shall present the proposed
ordinance, which shall include findings demonstrating the need for the
increased compensation. The ordinance shall not be adopted at the first
meeting.
(3) At least seven days after the first meeting, the city council shall hold
a second meeting to consider whether to adopt the ordinance.
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ill.
LEGISLATIVE
COUNSEL
BUREAU
Attachment 2
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
AUTHENTICATED
ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL
State of California
GOVERNMENT CODE
Section 36516
36516. (a) (1) A city council may enact an ordinance providing that each member
of the city council shall receive a salary based on the population of the city as set
forth in paragraph (2).
(2) The salaries approved by ordinance under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
(A) In cities up to and including 35,000 in population, up to and including nine
hundred fifty dollars ($950) per month.
(B) In cities over 35,000 up to and including 50,000 in population, up to and
including one thousand two hundred seventy-five dollars ($1,275) per month.
(C) In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in population, up to and
including one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per month.
(D) In cities over 75,000 up to and including 150,000 in population, up to and
including one thousand nine hundred dollars ($1,900) per month.
(E) In cities over 150,000 up to and including 250,000 in population, up to and
including two thousand five hundred fifty dollars ($2,550) per month.
(F) In cities over 250,000 population, up to and including three thousand two
hundred dollars ($3,200) per month.
(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, the population of a city shall be determined
by the last preceding federal census, or a subsequent census, or estimate validated by
the Department of Finance.
(4) The salary of council members may be increased beyond the amount provided
in this subdivision by an ordinance or by an amendment to an ordinance, but the
amount of the increase shall not exceed the greater of either of the following:
(A) An amount equal to 5 percent for each calendar year from the operative date
of the last adjustment of the salary in effect when the ordinance or amendment is
enacted.
(B) An amount equal to inflation since January 1, 2024, based upon the California
Consumer Price Index, which shall not exceed 10 percent for each calendar year.
(5) No ordinance shall be enacted or amended to provide automatic future increases
in salary.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), at any municipal election, the question of
whether city council members shall receive a salary for services, and the amount of
that salary, may be submitted to the electors. If a majority of the electors voting at
the election favor it, all of the council members shall receive the salary specified in
the election call. The salary of council members may be increased beyond the amount
provided in this section or decreased below the amount in the same manner.
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(c) Unless specifically authorized by another statute, a city council may not enact
an ordinance providing for compensation to city council members in excess of that
authorized by the procedures described in subdivisions (a) and (b). For the purposes
of this section, compensation includes payment for service by a city council member
on a commission, committee, board, authority, or similar body on which the city
council member serves. If the other statute that authorizes the compensation does not
specify the amount of compensation, the maximum amount shall be one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) per month for each commission, committee, board, authority, or similar
body.
(d) Any amounts paid by a city for retirement, health and welfare, and federal
social security benefits shall not be included for purposes of determining salary under
this section, provided that the same benefits are available and paid by the city for its
employees.
(e) Any amounts paid by a city to reimburse a council member for actual and
necessary expenses pursuant to Section 36514.5 shall not be included for purposes
of determining salary pursuant to this section.
(f) A city council member may waive any or all of the compensation permitted by
this section.
(g) (1) For the purposes of this section, a city council shall consider the adoption
of an ordinance to increase compensation in open session during at least two regular
meetings of the city council.
(2) At the first meeting, the city council shall present the proposed ordinance,
which shall include findings demonstrating the need for the increased compensation.
The ordinance shall not be adopted at the first meeting.
(3) At least seven days after the first meeting, the city council shall hold a second
meeting to consider whether to adopt the ordinance.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 27, Sec. 2. (SB 329) Effective January 1, 2024.)
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Attachment 3
Page 1 of 1
2.08.020 Salary for members established.
A. Pursuant to Section 36516 of the Government Code which provides that a city council may enact an
ordinance providing that each member of the city council shall receive a salary which shall be determined by a
schedule of population for cities, the members of the City Council shall receive a salary of one thousand four
hundred sixteen dollars and eighty-two cents ($1,416.82) per month.
B. No Councilmember shall be eligible to receive the increase provided herein until one (1) or more
Councilmembers begin a new term of office. (Ord. 4-22 § 1; Ord. 10-20 § 2; Ord. 7-18 § 2; Ord. 10-16 § 2; Ord.
2-12 § 2; Ord. 17-09 § 1 (part): Ord. 5-08 § 2; Ord. 3-06 § 2; Ord. 7-04 § 2; Ord. 7-02 § 2; Ord. 23-99 § 2; Ord. 6-
91 § 2; Ord. 1-90 § 2; Ord. 3-89 §§ 2, 3: Ord. 4-88 §§ 2, 3: Ord. 8-87 §§ 3, 4: Ord. 22-85 § 3: Ord. 6, 1982)
2.08.040 Mayor's salary.
The Mayor shall receive a monthly salary equivalent to half (50%) of the City Councilmember salary amount set
forth in Section 2.08.020(A), in addition to that which he/she receives as a Councilmember. (Ord. 4-22 § 2; Ord.
17-09 § 1 (part): Ord. 13-92 § 2)
The Dublin Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 8-23, passed December 19, 2023.
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City Council Salaries
February 20, 2024
DUBLIN
CALIFORNIA
California Government Code
• Government Code Section 365 1 6(a)( 1)
— A city council may enact an ordinance providing
that each member of the city council shall receive
a salary based on the population of the city as set
forth in paragraph (2).
California Government Code
• SB 329 — Effective January I , 2024 — changed
Government Code Section 36516 -
• (a)(2)(C) — In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in
population, up to and including one thousand six hundred dollars
($1,600) per month.
• Added the ability to increase the salary beyond the base equal to
inflation since January I, 2024, based upon the California
Consumer Price Index (CPI), or an amount equal to 5% for each
calendar year since last adjustment.
• The increase shall not exceed the greater of either of these
options and the CPI cannot exceed 10% for each calendar year.
Recommendation
• Discuss and provide direction to Staff
regarding adjustments to City Councilmember
salaries.