Item Number: {{item.number}}
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing(s)
Meeting of: September 17, 2024
Submitted By:
Andre de Bortnowsky, City Attorney
Subject:
Introduction of proposed Ordinance No. 2451, amending Sections 2.16.020 and 2.16.030 of Chapter 2.16 of the Victorville Municipal Code, for the purpose of adjusting the salaries of members of the Victorville City Council pursuant to Senate Bill 329 Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Open and conduct the public hearing;
(2) Introduce Ordinance No. 2451 for adoption and first reading by title only; and (3) Waive further reading in full of proposed Ordinance No. 2451.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action at this time. However, when the salary increase becomes effective following the November 2024 election and the seating of new City Council members in December as discussed herein, the monthly salary amount paid to each City Council member will be increased from $1,200.00 to $1,900.00.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Strategic Plan Goal “E” – Organizational Effectiveness and Sustainability
Background:
At the regular City Council meeting on August 20, 2024, it was moved by Council Member Jones and approved by a majority vote of the City Council to agendize an item for discussion and possible action regarding City Council monthly compensation. The motion included a request that the monthly compensation for City of Victorville City Council members be increased consistent with Government Code (GC) Section 36516, as recently amended by Senate Bill (SB) 329.
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In accordance with existing law (GC Section 36516.5), such increase would become effective after the 2024 general municipal election results are certified and new City Council members serving staggered terms are seated in December of 2024. GC Section 36516 requires that city council salaries be set and/or amended by passage of an ordinance. Proposed Ordinance No. 2451 (Attachment A) has been drafted accordingly and is attached for City Council consideration.
Discussion:
Victorville Municipal Code (VMC) Section 2.16.020 specifies the salary that is received by its City Council members. Said salary is currently $1,200.00 per month. Since being set at $500.00 per month in 1993 based on the City’s then-current population, the City Council’s salary has periodically been increased using the five percent (5%) per calendar year formula in GC Section 36516. This formula was adopted by ordinance and is codified in VMC Section 2.16.030. The last salary increase became effective in December of 2022, after two new City Council members were sworn into office following the November 2022 general election.
Effective January 1, 2024, SB 329 (Attachment B) revised GC Section 36516 to adjust for inflation the population-based maximum monthly salary amounts that city council members may receive, as those amounts had remained static since 1984. In cities with populations of 75,000 to 150,000 (such as Victorville, which has a population of 134,810 according to 2020 census figures) GC Section 36516 now permits council member salaries to be set at an amount up to $1,900.00 per month, provided such salary is set by an ordinance which includes findings demonstrating the need for the increase.
Revised GC Section 36516 also provides the following new formula for calculating future salary increases: “[A]n amount equal to inflation since January 1, 2024, based upon the California Consumer Price Index, which shall not exceed 10 percent for each calendar year.” As this new formula is an alternative to the current 5% formula (SB 329 permits the use of either formula, whichever produces the greater amount) the new formula will be set forth in VMC Section 2.16.030, together with the 5% formula. However, neither formula is applicable at this time, as the proposed increase to $1,900.00 is based on the new population maximum salary amounts provided for in SB 329.
Proposed Ordinance No. 2451 amends VMC Sections 2.16.020 and 2.16.030 as discussed above, and the eleventh (11th) Recital on page 2 includes findings demonstrating the need for the increase. As required by GC Section 36516.5, the new salary amount will be effective as of the first City Council member pay period that commences on or after the date new Council members are sworn into office in December following the certification of the November 2024 election results. A blackline comparison showing the proposed changes to the VMC is included as Attachment C.
Staff remains available for any questions or comments you may have. 3 7
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Attachments: A. Ordinance No. 2451
B. Senate Bill (SB) 329
C. Blackline Comparison