STAFF REPORT
CITY OF BURBANK
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
DATE: January 9, 2024
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Betsy McClinton, Management Services Director usy Mecluntur VIA: Ryan Sizemore, Assistant Management Services Director BY: Griselda De La Cruz, Senior Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending City Council Compensation and Adoption of a Resolution to Approve a Citywide Salary Schedule
RECOMMENDATION
1 .Introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AMENDING BURBANK MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2-1-202 RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
2. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK APPROVING A CITYWIDE SALARY SCHEDULE.
BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION
Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) §2-1-202 sets forth the current salary for the Council Members as well as the process for providing Council Member salary increases. BMC §2-1-202 incorporates by reference California Government Code §36516 (Government Code), which sets Council Member salaries based on city population and generally allows the Council to increase Council Member salaries by up to 5%, or an amount equal to inflation based on the California Consumer Price Index, not to exceed 10%, each calendar year from the operative date of the last salary adjustment. The current Burbank Council Member monthly salary is $1,625.39.
On June 29, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 329 (SB 329) into law, which provides the first increase to the Council Member salary set in the Government Code since 1984. SB 329 acknowledges that the then existing compensation schedule had not kept pace with inflation and attempts to provide equitable compensation for Council Members based on the population of their respective cities. 1 SB 329 allows cities to compensate Council Members at a salary level that enables them to balance careers and personal obligations with their dedicated commitment to serve the community. The new salaries set in the Government Code effective on January 1, 2024, are as follows:
Population Salary per Month
0-35,000 $950
35,001 - 50,000 $1,275
50,001 - 75,000 $1,600
75,001 - 150,000 $1,900
150,001 - 250,000 $2,550
250,001 or more $3,200
According to the United States Census Bureau, the estimated population of the City of Burbank as of July 1, 2022, is 103,920. Under SB 329, the Burbank Council Member's salary would be at $1,900. The current Burbank Council Member salary of $1,625.39 is
16.8% under the salary now set in the Government Code.
Given recent inflationary pressures on wages, and the acknowledgment in SB 329 that Council Member salaries have not kept pace since 1984, staff recommends that the Council bring Council Member salaries up to the level now contained in the Government Code and adopt a monthly salary for Council Members of $1,900.00.
Finally, in accordance with Government Code Section 20636 and California Code of Regulations Section 570.5, CaPERS requires public agencies to post a publicly available salary schedule to determine earnable compensation that is approved by the Council at a public meeting. The resolution to approve the City's Salary Schedule is attached as Attachment 2 and contains the proposed Council Member salary changes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and such as, is not a "project" subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs §15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Over the next two Fiscal Years (FY), the total cost associated with the compensation changes associated with the proposed resolution is $26,556.00. For FY 2023-24, the cost associated with the proposed changes is $8,852.00. The FY 2023-24 budget is able to absorb the additional cost. For FY 2024-25, the cost associated with the proposed changes is $17,704.00. The cost associated with the proposed changes in FY 2024-25 will be incorporated in the Proposed FY 2024-25 Budget and Five-Year Financial Forecast.
2 CONCLUSION
Staff recommends the Council enact the ordinance amending the salary provided to Council Members.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Ordinance of the Council of the City of Burbank Amending Burbank Municipal Code Section 2-1-202 Relating to Compensation of the City Council Members
Attachment 2 - Resolution of the Council of the City of Burbank Approving a Citywide Salary Schedule