CA Review CKM
Meeting Date: Jan. 27, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Morgen Fry, Assistant City Clerk
[email protected], 442-339-2819
Subject: Adoption of Ordinance Nos. CS-504 and CS-505, Annual Elected Officials’ Compensation Review
Districts: All
Recommended Actions
1)Adopt Ordinance No. CS-504 amending Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A), to adjust City Council members’ compensation by the percentage increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025; and
2)Adopt Ordinance No. CS-505 amending Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.020(A), to adjust City Clerk and City Treasurer compensation by the percentage increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
Executive Summary
The recommended actions adopt ordinances to adjust the compensation for City Council members, the City Clerk and City Treasurer by the percentage increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
Explanation & Analysis
Ordinance No. CS-504 and Ordinance No. CS-505 were introduced and first read at the City Council meeting held on Jan. 13, 2026.
On a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, the City Council voted 4-1 (Burkholder – No) to introduce Ordinance No. CS-504 amending Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A), to adjust City Council members’ compensation by the percentage increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
On a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Bhat-Patel, seconded by Council Member Acosta, the City Council voted 5-0 to introduce Ordinance No. CS-505 amending Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section
2.04.020(A), to adjust City Clerk and City Treasurer compensation by the percentage increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
This second reading allows the City Council to adopt the ordinances.
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Fiscal Analysis
The annual impact for the increase in City Council compensation, including the impact on benefits, is approximately $6,400. The annual fiscal impact for the increase in City Clerk and City Treasurer compensation, including the impact on benefits, is approximately $1,200. There is sufficient funding in the General Fund budget for fiscal year 2025-26 to absorb the proposed increase.
Next Steps
The City Clerk’s Office will have the ordinances, or a summary of the ordinances, published in a newspaper of general circulation within 15 days following adoption of the ordinances. The ordinances will be effective 30 days after their adoption.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action to adjust elected officials’ compensation is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
Exhibits
1.Ordinance No. CS-504
2.Ordinance No. CS-505
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Exhibit 1
ORDINANCE NO. CS-504.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 2.04, SECTION 2.04.010(A), TO ADJUST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS’ COMPENSATION BY THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR 2025 WHEREAS, on November 3, 2020, the voters of the City of Carlsbad, California, approved Measure G, adopting Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code, which prohibits City Council compensation adjustments from exceeding the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, requires the City Council to either make or waive a compensation adjustment in January of each year, and prohibits the City Council from enacting retroactive increases for years in which the City Council waived a compensation adjustment; and WHEREAS, the increase in the November San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025 was 4%; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adjust the compensation of City Council members by the percentage increase in the November San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, ordains as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the action to adjust elected officials’ compensation is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
3.That the first sentence of Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A) is amended to read:
2.04.010 Compensation–Mayor and city council.
A.The monthly compensation of city council members is increased from $2,415.97 to $2,512.61.
B.The monthly compensation of Mayor is increased from $2,515.97 to $2,612.61 EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption; and the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause the full text of the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance prepared by the City Attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption.
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INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 13th day of January, 2026, and thereafter
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 27th day of January, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
None.
None.
None.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
_________________________________
CINDIE K. McMAHON, City Attorney
_______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
_______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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Exhibit 2
ORDINANCE NO. CS-505.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 2.04, SECTION 2.04.020(A), TO
ADJUST CITY CLERK AND CITY TREASURER COMPENSATION BY THE
PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR 2025
WHEREAS, on October 18, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Ordinance No. CS-435, which prohibits City Clerk and City Treasurer compensation adjustments from exceeding the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, requires the City Council to determine whether to approve City Clerk and City Treasurer compensation adjustments in January of each year, and prohibits the enactment of retroactive increases for years in which the City Council did not approve compensation adjustments; and
WHEREAS, the increase in the November San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025 was 4%; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adjust the compensation of the City Clerk and City Treasurer by the percentage increase in the November San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, ordains as follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the action to adjust elected officials’ compensation is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
3.That the first sentence of Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.020(A) is amended to read:
2.04.020 Compensation–City clerk and city treasurer.
A.The compensation of the city clerk and city treasurer is increased from $1,218.23 to $1,266.96 per month, payable biweekly.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption; and the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause the full text of the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance prepared by the City Attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption.
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INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 13th day of January, 2026, and thereafter
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 27th day of January, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
_________________________________
CINDIE K. McMAHON, City Attorney
_______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
_______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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