Ordinance No. XX- 2026 Page 1 of 3
DRAFT
ORDINANCE NO. XX-2026
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FREMONT AMENDING FREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
2.05.060 (COMPENSATION OF MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS)
TO ADJUST THE SALARIES OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS
WHEREAS, Section 36516 of the California Government Code authorizes Councilmembers to receive a monthly salary, and Section 365161.1 authorizes the Mayor to receive compensation in addition to that which the Mayor receives as a Councilmember; and
WHEREAS, Fremont Municipal Code Section 2.05.060 establishes the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers and sets forth a process for reviewing and adjusting compensation; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.05.060(c) permits increases to compensation commensurate with the Consumer Price Index, in an amount not to exceed four percent; and
WHEREAS, the monthly salary for the City Council was adjusted to the current level of $2,602.56 per month for Councilmembers and $4,623.83 per month for the Mayor, which became effective upon seating of the Councilmembers elected on November 5, 2024; and
WHEREAS, California Senate Bill 329, effective January 1, 2024, amended California Government Code Section 36516 to permit adjustments to city council salaries by an amount not exceeding the greater of either five percent for each calendar year from the operative date of the last adjustment of the salary, or based on inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, which shall not exceed 10 percent for each calendar year; and
WHEREAS, based on the most recent information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index – All Urban Consumers, San Francisco-Oakland- Hayward, inflation has increased from December 2024 through June 2026 at an annualized rate of 4.2%; and
WHEREAS, consistent with Senate Bill 329 and local law, the City Council desires to adjust the City Council salary to account for inflation based on the annualized rate of four percent; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adjusting Councilmembers compensation is needed to address the impacts of inflation and economic realities on those who serve on the City Council, and to encourage persons from different income levels to consider service on the City Council by making the compensation more reflective of the time and work being performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FREMONT DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.05.060.
The Fremont Municipal Code Section 2.05.060 is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 2.05.060. Compensation of mayor and councilmembers.
(a) Each member of the council other than the mayor shall receive a salary of $2,602.56 $2,810.76 per month.
(b) The mayor shall receive a salary of $4,623.83 $4,993.74 per month.
(c) Compensation increases shall be reviewed during each budget cycle and increases shall be considered commensurate with the Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Metropolitan Area in an amount not to exceed 4%. Any increase to the councilmembers’ salaries shall become effective only upon commencement of a new council term of office following adoption of an ordinance authorizing the increase. Any increase to the mayor’s additional compensation (the amount that exceeds the councilmembers’ salary amount) shall become effective as set forth in the ordinance adopting the increase.
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY.
The City Council hereby declares that, should any provision, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, be rendered or declared invalid or unconstitutional by any final court action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any preemptive legislation, such decision or action shall not affect the validity of the remaining section or portions of the Ordinance or part thereof, and further declares that it would have independently adopted the remaining provisions, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. CEQA.
The City Council finds, under Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378, that this ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it is not a Project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment and is a governmental activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The Ordinance shall take effect thirty days after adoption, and the salary increases authorized herein shall commence on the start of the new City Council term of office following the November 3, 2026, election.
SECTION 5. PUBLICATION AND POSTING.
The City Clerk has prepared and published at least five days before the date of adoption a summary of this ordinance once in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in Alameda County and circulated in the City of Fremont. A certified copy of the full text of the ordinance was posted in the office of the City Clerk since at least five days before this date of adoption. Within 15 days after adoption of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall cause the summary to be published again with the names of those City Council members voting for and against the ordinance and shall post in the office of the City Clerk a certified copy of the full text of this adopted ordinance with the names of those City Council members voting for and against the ordinance.
The foregoing ordinance was introduced before the City Council of the City of Fremont at the regular meeting of the City Council, held on the day of and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the day of by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Clerk City Attorney