City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYO R AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2023
FROM: CITY COUNCIL WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL LEVEL OF COMPEN SATION INCREASE AND
PROVIDING CERTAIN FRINGE BENEFITS
ISSUE:
Determine whether to revise the compensation of the Mayor and Members of the City Council.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Conduct the public hearing as required by Section 403 of the Riverside City Charter to determine whether to revise the compensati on of the Mayor and Members of the City Council for not to exceed 5% of the current salary;
2. With five affirmati ve votes, introduce and adopt an ordi nance establishing the level of compensation of the Mayor and providing certain fringe benefits, and repealing Ordinance No. 7278 in its entirety ; and
3. With five affirmative vo tes, introduce and adopt an ordinance establishing the level of compensation for Members of the City Council and providing certain fringe benefits, and repealing Ordinance No. 7279 in its entirety.
BACKGROUND:
On November 4, 2004, the voters of the City of Riverside approved Measure EE which amended Charter Section 403 of the River side City Charter. Measure EE eliminated the Mayor and City Council Members Salary Commission and requires th e City Council, in January of every odd- numbered year, to review the com pensation, including salary and fringe benefits, of the Mayor and City Council Members. Measure EE became effective on January 18, 2005. The next salary review was conducted in 2007.
On January 15, 2013, the City Council adopted Ordinance Nos. 7198 and 7199 establishing a monthly salary of $6,569 for the Mayor and $3,284 for the Members of the City Council. This action retained the same salaries established in 2007 and confirmed in 2009, 2011, and 2013.
Mayor and City Council Salary Review • Page 2
The Ordinances further provided certain fringe benefits to the Mayor and Members of the City Council consistent with thos e fringe benefits made available to the Executive Management employees of the City.
On February 6, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance Nos. 7278 and 7279, which provided a five percent (5%) salary increase and established the level of compensation of $6,897 monthly for the Mayor and $3,448 monthly for Members of the City Council, respectively, and provided certain fringe benefits.
On January 24, 2017, the City C ouncil conducted a public hearing. The motion to increase compensation for the Mayor and Mem bers of the City Council failed for lack of five affirmative votes.
On February 26, 2019, the City Council conducted a public heari ng. The motion to increase compensation for the Mayor and Mem bers of the City Council failed for lack of five affirmative votes.
On January 26, 2021, the City Council unanimously recommended not to adjust the salary or benefits of the Mayor and City Council.
The below chart summarizes Mayor and City Council compensation from 2002 through 2021.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SALARY
YEAR MAYOR CITY COUNCIL
2002 $6,256 $3,128
2007 $6,569 $3,284
2009 $6,569 $3,284
2011 $6,569 $3,284
2013 $6,569 $3,284
2015 $6,897 $3,448
2017 $6,897 $3,448
2019 $6,897 $3,448
2021 $6,897 $3,448
The Ordinances adopted in 2015 provide certain fr inge benefits to the Mayor and Members of the City Council consistent wit h those fringe benefi ts made available to the Executive Management employees of the City.
DISCUSSION:
On January 24, 2023, the City Council reviewed the current compensation, including salary and benefits, of the Mayor and members of the City Council and, by a vote of 5-2 with Councilmembers Conder and Perry voting no, call ed a public hearing to determine whether to revise the compensation.
Mayor and City Council Salary Review • Page 3
Pursuant to Charter Section 403, any increase in salary for the Mayor and/or members of the City Council may not exceed five percent of thei r then-existing salary. Compensation shall be fixed by ordinance, adopted by not fewer than five affirmative votes of the City Council, after a public hearing, notice of which has been given by publication by at least fourteen (14) days prior to such hearing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action for Fiscal Years 2022/23 & 2023/24 is $29,000. A five percent (5%) increase to the Mayor and City Council's salaries for the remainder of FY 2022/23 would be approximately $7,500, which includes fringe benefits, such as PERS. Fo r FY 2023/24, the fiscal impact would be roughly $21,500, including fringe benefits . Funding for salaries and benefits is paid from the General Fund; however, it is allocated among other funding sources due to the Mayor and Council's oversight of citywide operations. The current budget will be able to absorb the increase. However, if necessary, staff will monitor expenses and bring forth an adjustment to the City Council for approval.
Prepared by:
______________________
CLARISSA CERVANTES
Mayor Pro Tem
Availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Charter Section 403
2. Summary of Current Benefits
3. Ordinances
4. Hearing Notice