From: Kalid Sanchez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 10:53 PM
To: Lucille Mallonee <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 6-17-26 City council Meeting please read in open forum Subject: Concerns Regarding Proposed City Council Actions Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding several proposals that are being considered by the Council, including increasing City Council salaries, reducing public comment time from five minutes to three minutes, and changing the Treasurer position from an elected office to one appointed by the Council.
Regarding City Council compensation, I believe there is a larger issue that should be addressed. The fact that council salaries have not been reviewed or adjusted for many years reflects a failure to establish a regular process for evaluating compensation. To avoid similar situations in the future, I believe salary reviews should occur periodically and be adjusted appropriately when necessary.
However, I do not agree that salaries should be drastically increased simply because previous councils failed to address the issue. A significant increase all at once is difficult to justify, especially when many residents are facing rising costs of living and expect responsible stewardship of public funds.
I also believe that serving on the City Council should remain, as much as possible, a volunteer-based public service position. We should encourage individuals who seek office because they want to serve their community, not because they view the position primarily as employment. When someone chooses to run for City Council, they understand the responsibilities and compensation associated with the role. It is fundamentally a commitment to public service.
Additionally, I do not believe that the argument that higher salaries are needed to attract younger candidates is sufficient justification for a substantial increase. While broader participation in local government is important, compensation alone should not be the determining factor.
Most importantly, I do not believe City Council should be responsible for granting itself significant salary increases. In my view, allowing elected officials to determine their own compensation weakens an important system of checks and balances. If a substantial salary increase is being considered, it should be presented to the voters for approval.
I am also concerned about the proposal to reduce public comment time from five minutes to three minutes. Public comment is one of the few opportunities residents have to directly address their elected officials. Reducing that time may discourage participation and limit the ability of community members to fully express their concerns, ideas, and perspectives.
Finally, I oppose changing the Treasurer position from an elected office to one appointed by the Council. An elected Treasurer is directly accountable to the voters. Converting this position to an appointment removes a layer of public oversight and takes away the community’s ability to choose who is responsible for this important office.
Taken together, these proposals raise concerns about transparency, accountability, and public participation in local government. Regardless of where residents stand on these issues, I believe the community deserves a meaningful opportunity to be heard before any decisions are made.
I respectfully ask the Council to carefully consider the concerns of the public and to prioritize openness, accountability, and citizen engagement in its decision-making process.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kalid Sanchez
District 1 Community Member