February 6, 2024
City Attorney's Office
DATE: February 6, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shannon Moore, Chief City Attorney
Kimberly Chin, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager - Internal Services
Subject:
Ordinance Amending the Monthly Salary for the Mayor
and City Councilmembers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This action has an estimated fiscal impact of $50,464 to the General Fund based on the terms of the agreement.
All costs must be allocated to the City Council’s budget
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
2007
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council’s approval is required to approve the
first reading of an Ordinance amending the monthly
salary for the Mayor and City Councilmembers
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
INTRODUCE an ordinance (first reading) amending the
monthly salary for the Mayor and City Council members – City Attorney’s Office (Shannon Moore/Kimberly Chin
510-620-6509).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond’s elected officials have not received a cost-of-living increase since 2007. The current monthly salary for the Mayor is $3,875 and the current monthly salary for Councilmembers is $1,402.50 (Attachment 1: Ordinance No. 24-07 N.S.; Ordinance No. 32-07 N.S.; and Ordinance No. 14-07 N.S.)
AGENDA
REPORT
February 6, 2024
Given the substantial increase in the cost of living in the Bay Area since the last salary increase in 2007, and to make compensation equitable and commensurate with comparable cities (See Attachment 1 - Bay Area and Contra Costa Cities Compensation Survey), staff is proposing an increase of five percent per year, non-compounding for sixteen (16) years which is the maximum allowed per California Government Code 36516, as recently amended by Senate Bill No 329 (Attachment 4).
The following table shows a comparison between their current and proposed salaries.
Title Current Proposed
Mayor $3,875/month $6,975.00/month
City Council Members $1,402.50/month $2,524.50/month
The Mayor’s increase will be effective January 1, 2024 and is retroactive to that date.
California Government Code 36516.5 provides that any Council salary increase may take effect only when at least one member of the Council commences a new term. The proposed monthly salary increases for Councilmembers will take effect on January 1, 2025 after the November 5, 2024 General Election since two councilmembers will commence a new term on January 1, 2025.
NEXT STEPS:
Staff recommend approval of the first reading of the Ordinance to amend the monthly salary for the Mayor and Council members.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Bay Area and Contra Costa Cities Compensation Survey Attachment 2 – Ordinance No. 24-07 N.S.; Ordinance No. 32-07 N.S.; Ordinance No. 32-07 N.S.; Ordinance No. 14-07 N.S.
Attachment 3 – Proposed Ordinance Amendment
Attachment 4 – Senate Bill No. 329