San Mateo City Council Rules & Procedures 7/15/24
22 Chapter 9. Financial Matters
1. Council Member Compensation
A. State law sets the overall level of compensation for City Council Members (California Government Code § 36516).
B. Compensation of Council Members is set by Resolution (see the San Mateo City Charter, Section 2.03 Compensation).
C. Council Member benefits are established in San Mateo City Charter, Section 2.04 Benefits and Expenses.
D. A full explanation of Council Member compensation is available on the City’s website
.
2. City Council Expense Reimbursement Policy
A. Authorized Expenses
1. City funds, equipment, supplies, titles, and staff time must only be used for authorized city business. Expenses incurred in connection with the following types of activities generally constitute authorized expenses, as long as the other requirements of this policy are met:
a. Communicating with representatives of regional, state, and national government on matters of interest to the City.
b. Meeting with City staff on matters relating to City business. c. Attending educational seminars designed to improve officials’ skill and information levels.
d. Participating in local, regional, state, and national organizations whose activities effect the City’s interests; however, a member of the City Council shall not accept an elected or appointed position that would require anticipated costs to the City of more than $100 annually without City Council approval.
e. Recognizing the service to the City (for example, thanking a longtime employee with a retirement gift of nominal value). f. Attending fundraising events for nonprofit entities providing services of benefit to the City and/or its residents.
g. Attending City events.
San Mateo City Council Rules & Procedures 7/15/24
23 h. Implementing a City approved strategy for attracting or retaining businesses to the City, which will typically involve at least one staff member.
2. All other expenses require prior approval by the City Council.
3. The City will not reimburse the following expenses:
a. The personal portion of any trip.
b. Political contributions or events.
c. Family expenses, including partner’s expenses when accompanying official on agency-related business.
d. Entertainment expenses, such as movies, sporting events, or cultural events.
e. Non-mileage personal automobile expenses, including repairs, citations, insurance or gasoline.
B. Cost Control
To conserve City resources and keep expenses within community standards for public officials, expenditures should adhere to the following guidelines. If expenses are incurred that exceed these guidelines, the cost borne or reimbursed by the City will be limited to the costs that fall within these guidelines.
1. Airfare
Airfares that are equal to or less than those available through the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the State of California are presumed to be the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy. If no discounted airfare is available through these entities, then the most reasonable and economical airfare possible should be utilized.
2. Airport Parking
Long-term parking must be used for travel exceeding 24 hours.
3. Automobile
Mileage shall be reimbursed at IRS rates presently in effect (see www.irs.gov). These rates are designed to compensate the driver for gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and other expenses. In addition, drivers
San Mateo City Council Rules & Procedures 7/15/24
24 may be reimbursed for bridge and road tolls. For rental vehicles, only receipted fuel expenses will be reimbursed.
4. Car Rental
Rental rates that are equal or less than those available through the State of California’s website Car Rental Resources for State Travel shall be considered the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy.
5. Conferences/Meetings
If such lodging is in connection with a conference, lodging expenses must not exceed the group rate published by the conference sponsor for the meeting in question if such rates are available at the time of booking. If the group rate is not available, rates that are equal to or less than the group rate at the host hotel are presumed to be reasonable and reimbursable for purposes of this policy.
6. Internet
Officials will be reimbursed for Internet access connection and/or usage fees away from home, if Internet access is necessary for City business.
7. Lodging
Council members are expected to select the most cost-effective and logical lodging available, including utilizing the lodging at the conference/training site, if available. If there is not specific lodging associated with the official City business, the City shall pay for actual lodging expenses up to the United States General Services Administration (GSA) maximum rate allowed by location (Per Diem Rates | GSA
). This maximum applies to the
room rate only and does not include any taxes or fees. Government rates for lodging are often available and should be sought. The City will pay only for standard single rooms, including taxes and fees, for individual Council members, and any additional nonbusiness expenses incurred will be paid by the Council member.
8. Meals
The City will pay for a Council member’s meals during authorized, required travel up to the per diem amount (Per Diem Rates | GSA
). If meals are
included in the cost of a conference or training, the City will not pay for a meal that an employee elects to purchase from another source. Unlike lodging, using the per diem methodology for meals that is limited to the
San Mateo City Council Rules & Procedures 7/15/24
25 GSA amount eliminates the need for employees to submit receipts. Thus, the Council members only need to report the per diem amounts in the expense report, but not the actual receipts. This only applies to meals, as all other travel expenses require a receipt to substantiate the purchase.
When the meal function is an organized event, the official or employee shall be reimbursed the amount being charged by the event organizer for the meal. The City will not pay for alcohol/personal bar expenses.
9. Taxis/Shuttles
Taxis or shuttle fares may be reimbursed, including a 15 percent gratuity per fare, when the cost of such fares is equal or less than the cost of car rentals, gasoline, and parking combined, or when such transportation is necessary for time-efficiency.
10. Telephone/Fax/Cellular
Officials will be reimbursed for actual telephone and fax expenses incurred on City business. Telephone bills should identify which calls were made on City business.
11. Transportation
Officials traveling on City business shall use the most economical mode and class of transportation reasonably consistent with scheduling needs and cargo space requirements, using the most direct, time-efficient route.
Government and group rates must be used when available.
C. Expense Reports
1. Expense reimbursement requests must be submitted on an expense report form provided by the City. Reports must document how the expenditure met the requirements of this policy.
2. Expense reports must be submitted within 30 days of an expense being incurred; and must be accompanied by receipts documenting each expense.
3. Expense reports are a public record.
San Mateo City Council Rules & Procedures 7/15/24
26 D. Audits of Expenses
All expenses are subject to verification that they comply with this policy.
E. Reports on Meetings
Each official shall briefly give an oral report on any Brown Act meetings they attended for which they receive expense reimbursement at their next City Council, Board, or Commission meeting.
F. Violation of this Policy
Under state law, use of public resources or falsifying expense reports in violation of this policy may result in any or all of the following: 1) loss of reimbursement privileges, 2) a demand for restitution to the City, 3) the agency’s reporting the expenses as income to the official to state and federal tax authorities, 4) civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day and three times the value of the resources used, and 5) prosecution for misuse of public resources.