From: Andrew Smith
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 15.2 REPORT - PROPOSED CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS - 2022 Date: Monday, July 11, 2022 10:29:49 AM
Any increase in the salary level for city council persons and the mayor should be based on the following recommendations:
ONE: There should be five (5) districts, not seven. The seven was a legal requirement to continue that amount after it was increased from 5 to 7 members and a minimum of ten (10) years. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors have five (5) members each representing about 100,000 residents per supervisor.
With 7 council persons including the mayor who represents a district, why have each council person represent 26,000 residents? By having five (5) districts where the mayor still chosen from the city council for a two year term, that amount would increase to 36,000 residents per council person. Not a huge amount. Just a matter of changing the districts.
TWO: there should be a two consecutive term limit but allow that person to run again after sitting out one term. This will bring in new people and their vision for Santa Rosa. Help avoid the long term council person in office.
THREE: the salary level should be increased to $30,000 for council persons and $40,000 for the mayor. This represents roughly tripling the current salary given of $800/month for a council person and $1,000/month for the mayor. Then after five (5) years, review the salary levels and see what level it should be increased again. There has never been an issue of not having people run for the city council at the current salary levels.
Andrew Smith
Santa Rosa