Cathedral City Page 1 of 3 Printed on 8/17/2023
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.C
Meeting Date: August 23, 2023
From: Charles McClendon, City Manager
Title: Council Salary Comparison Data
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
Salaries for the City Council are established through the City Charter adopted by the voters in 2016:
Section 605. City Council Salaries.
The then-current salary of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members shall be reviewed and adjusted annually beginning with the first pay period after July 1 of each year based on the change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) for the Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA average for all items, 1982-84=100, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics or the most closely equivalent successor thereto in the event the index is terminated or changed. The “base index” for the adjustment shall be the index for December 2015. Regardless of the CPI-U, in no case shall the salaries be increased by more than 3% in any given year, or exceed a maximum of $2,500 per month.
DISCUSSION:
The following table provides a ten-year history of Council salaries. Since the Charter was approved and became effective, there has been a CPI increase each year. Please note that in 2020 Council authorized a ten percent reduction in salaries as part of the COVID budget reductions. That cut was restored and the Charter authorized CIP increases were added in 2021.
ANNUAL EFFECTIVE
SALARY DATE
Cathedral City Page 2 of 3 Printed on 8/17/2023
16,439.71 07/09/2023
15,960.88 07/10/2022
15,496.00 07/01/2021
13,659.52 07/05/2020
15,177.21 07/14/2019
14,735.16 07/01/2018
14,305.95 07/02/2017
14,025.44 07/05/2016
14,025.44 07/05/2015
14,025.44 07/05/2014
The following table provides comparison data on Council salaries paid by the other Coachella Valley cities. This data was collected in the spring of 2023 and does not incorporate any increases provided since that time. The Cathedral City data for the year prior to the most recent increase so that it is consistent with the data provided for the other jurisdictions.
City Stipend/Salary Only (Does
Not include any benefits)
Cathedral City $15,960.88 annually
Coachella $ 8,532.60 annually
Desert Hot Springs Mayor - $17,151.36 annually
Council - $14,671.44 annually
(they also receive $75 per meeting for external
boards/committees that do not provide a stipend)
Indian Wells Mayor - $18,000 annually
Mayor Pro Tem - $15,000 annually
Council - $12,000 annually
Indio $16,073.64 annually
La Quinta Mayor - $33,600 annually
Council - $27,600 annually
Rancho Mirage Mayor - $38,500 annually
Council - $35,000 annually
Palm Desert $26,432.04 annually
Palm Springs Mayor – $49,920 annually
Council - $41,604 annually
Should the Council decide to amend the Charter and revise Council salaries, the following procedure will be required to do so:
“Under Section 3 of article XI of the California Constitution and Government Code 34450 et seq., the process to amend a City Charter follows one of two methods. One method is for the registered voters of the City to elect commissioners to a charter commission which is responsible for drafting a proposed amendment that is then Cathedral City Page 3 of 3 Printed on 8/17/2023
submitted to the registered voters for approval. See Government Code sections 34450- 34457. The alternative method, which was the method Cathedral City followed to adopt its Charter, is for the City Council to agree upon a proposed Charter amendment which is then submitted to the registered voters of the City for approval. See Government Code sections 34458.
Using the alternative method, at a regular Council meeting, the City Council would discuss the issue and text of a proposed Charter amendment and approve text for consideration by the public. Pursuant to Government Code section 34458, the Council must then hold two separate public hearings on the issue and content of the proposal. Notice of each public hearing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the City, and posted in three places within the City, both for 21 days prior to the each public hearing. In addition, the second public hearing must be held at least 30 days after the first public hearing. At least one of the public hearings must be held outside of normal City business hours to facilitate public participation. Then, 21 days following the second public hearing the City Council may vote on whether to approve the proposed Charter amendment. If approved by the City Council, the proposed amendment must be submitted to the voters at the next established statewide general election date pursuant to Election Code section 1200 provided there are at least 88 days before the election. The approved Statewide election date is the first Tuesday, after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.
A majority of electors voting on the question must vote in favor for it to be passed.
If the amendment proposes to authorize the City Council to have the power to raise its own compensation and the compensation of other City Official without voter approval that must be specified in the ballot description. The City must also comply with certain procedural rules. See Government Code sections 34458.5, 34459, and 34460.” FISCAL IMPACT:
None with this discussion item. Council salaries are budgeted in accordance with Charter provisions.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL A: SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE AND DEDICATION
Objective: Through diversity, equity and inclusion driven employee programs and employee experiences, Cathedral City is the employer of choice with a workforce that is engaged, motivated and respected public stewards.
Action A-2 Review Comparison data on Council salaries and the process to update if warranted.