Nt
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: October 27, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer Crawford, Interim City Manager�i--
Steven Graham Pacifico, City Attorney
Item No. 14
SUBJECT: Councilmember Compensation Adjustment under Senate Bill 329 RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council review and consider:
1. Maintaining the current Councilmember compensation of $500 per month per Councilmember, pursuant to Yucaipa Municipal Code (YMC) § 2.04.020; or
2. Approve the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 473, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Yucaipa, California, amending Yucaipa Municipal Code § 2.04.020 to set the monthly salary of each Councilmember at $1,649, consistent with Government Code § 36516(a) as amended by SB 329 (2023) for cities with a population greater than 50,000 and up to 75,000, and
Direct the City Clerk to place the ordinance on the next regular meeting agenda for second reading and adoption, with the increase to take effect upon the seating of a Councilmember to a new term pursuant to Government Code § 36516.5.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the City Council meeting of September 22, 2025, Mayor Pro Tem Venable requested reconsideration of Councilmember compensation. By consensus, the City Council directed staff to bring the item back for discussion at the Regular meeting of October 27, 2025. In addition, staff were directed to include comparisons from similar cities (Attachment 1).
Yucaipa City Councilmember compensation is currently established by YMC § 2.04.020 at $500 per month per Councilmember. The ordinance cites Government Code § 36516 as the controlling authority and provides that adjustments must comply with §§ 36516 and 36516.5.
For general law cities, state law establishes population -based limits on council salaries that may be adopted by ordinance. Those limits had not been updated since 1984. In 2023 the Legislature enacted SB 329 to modernize the statutory schedule and related procedures. Effective January 1, 2024, Government Code § 36516 initially authorizes a salary of up to $1,600 per month for cities with
populations over 50,000 and up to 75,000. SB 329 also added a procedural requirement that allows Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments, so long as the increase is considered in open session at two regular meetings, presented at the first meeting and eligible for adoption no sooner than seven days later.
The City's population for purposes of § 36516 may be established by the most recent federal census.
The 2020 U.S. Census reports Yucaipa's population as 54,542, placing the City within the over-50,000 to 75,000 tier created by SB 329 and making the City Council eligible for the initial base of $1,600 per month. City Council may consider resetting local compensation to that tier level through the attached ordinance, with the operative date governed by § 36516.5's staggered -term rule. In this case, the updated compensation will not take effect until December 2026.
SB 329 also modified how cities may lawfully update their salary over time, if the council chooses to do so. Under § 36516, a city may adopt an ordinance setting a salary above the tier maximum, but only up to the greater of five percent per calendar year since the last operative adjustment or the cumulative inflation since January 1, 2024 as measured by the California Consumer Price Index, with an absolute limit of 10 percent per calendar year. Importantly, the statute continues to prohibit automatic increase, each increase must be set by ordinance, and any increase becomes operative only when at least one Councilmember begins a new term. For the City's proposed action, setting compensation at $1,649, the CPI calculation for calendar year (3.1 %) has been included.
Finally, SB 329 did not alter the long-standing rule that reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses, automobile allowance, and employer -paid benefits provided on the same basis as for employees are excluded from "salary" for purposes of § 36516. Those items, if present, are budgeted and administered separately and are not affected by the proposed ordinance. The City Council currently receives a $150 per month auto allowance.
Pursuant to Recommendation Option 2, adjusting the monthly compensation from $500 to $1,649 per Councilmember will result in an additional cost of up to $40,216 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27. The total annualized increase, excluding any annual CPI adjustment, is approximately $69,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendations do not result in a FY 2025/26 fiscal impact. Increases to compensation would not take effect until December 2026 and would be included in the proposed FY 2026/27 budget if approved.
Attachment(s):
1. Compensation Comparison
2. Ordinance No. 473
3. California CPI Data
ATTACHMENT 1
City Council Compensation Comparison
YUCAIPA
Population Council Stipend
(Census) Monthly
54,465 $650
Comments
* includes auto allowance
Neighboring/SB County City Population-COMPARABLES
Comments
Calimesa
11,150
$700
**
Highland
56,499
$796
**
Redlands
74,279
$500
**
Beaumont
59,502
$420
**
Banning
31,929
$950
**
Colton
53,528
$242
**
** includes allowances if any
ATTACHMENT 2
ORDINANCE NO. 473
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2.04.020 OF THE YUCAIPA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO COUNCILMEMBER COMPENSATION PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 329
WHEREAS, the compensation schedule for general law cities has not been adjusted since 1984, resulting in city council compensation that has not kept pace with inflation; and WHEREAS, enhancing compensation to account for inflation since 1984 ensures more individuals may serve the public and meet their familial obligations effectively; and WHEREAS, the substantial time requirements and inadequate compensation deter many individuals from actively pursuing public office; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 329 was enacted in 2023 and authorizes an increase in City Councilmember salaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings
The City Council finds that the adoption of this Ordinance per Senate Bill 329 will promote greater representation and meaningful engagement.
Section 2. Municipal Code Amendment
Section 2.04.020 of the Yucaipa Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
2.04.020 Compensation.
A. Purpose. The ordinance codified in this section is enacted pursuant to Section 36516 of the Government Code, which authorizes a city council to provide by ordinance that each member of the council may receive a compensation based upon the population of the city.
B. Population.
1) Section 36516(a)(3) of the Government Code states that "...the population of a city shall be determined by the last preceding federal census..." 2) On April 1, 2020, the federal census determined that the population of the City of Yucaipa is 54,542.
C. Compensation. The compensation for each member of the City Council shall be one thousand six hundred forty nine dollars ($1,649) per month. The compensation is payable
at the same time and in the same manner as the compensation paid to each of the officers and employees of the City. Any amounts paid for retirement, health and welfare, and federal social security benefits, as well as amounts paid by the City to reimburse or as an allowance to a member of the City Council for actual and necessary expenses, shall not be included for purposes of determining compensation.
D. Pursuant to Government Code Section 36515.5 and Senate Bill 329, the above amendment to City Councilmember salary shall be effective for all members whenever one or more members of the City Council becomes eligible for a salary increase by virtue of the Council Member beginning a new term of office.
Section 3. Severability
If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 4. Publication
The City Clerk is authorized and directed to cause this Ordinance to be published as required by law.
Section 5. Adoption and Effective Date
This ordinance shall take effect 30 days after passage by the City Council PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of , 2025.
Jon Thorp, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ana V. Sauseda, MMC Steven Graham Pacifico
Director of General Services/City Clerk City Attorney
ATTACHMENT 3
State of California
Department of Industrial Relations
http://www.dir.ca.gov/OPRL
Office of the Director- Research Unit
P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco, California 94142
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles -Long Beach -Anaheim, San Francisco -Oakland -Hayward, San Diego -Carlsbad, Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario, United States City Average, 2024-2025 All Items
1982 - 1984 = 100
All Urban Consumers, percentage (%) change from previous year Year
Month
Californiaa
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Anaheimb
San
Francisco
Oakland
Haywardb
San Diego
Carlsbadb
Riverside
San
Bernardino
Ontariob
U.S. City
Averageb
2024
January
2.5%
3.8%
2.9%
3.1%
2024
February
3.3%
3.4%
2.4%
3.2%
2024
March
4.0%
3.6%
4.3%
3.5%
2024
April
3.8%
3.9%
3.8%
3.4%
2024
May
3.9%
3.2%
4.0%
3.3%
2024
June
3.3%
3.2%
3.2%
3.0%
2024
July
3.4%
3.5%
2.8%
2.9%
2024
August
2.7%
2.9%
2.7%
2.5%
2024
September
2.8%
2.5%
1.4%
2.4%
2024
October
2.5%
3.0%
2.4%
2.6%
2024
November
3.2%
2.6%
1.1%
2.7%
2024
December
3.0%
3.4%
2.4%
2.9%
2024
Annual Average
3.1%
3.3%
2.8%
3.1 %
2.6%
2.9%
2025
January
3.3%
3.8%
2.9%
3.0%
2025
February
3.1%
3.1%
2.7%
2.8%
2025
March
3.0%
3.8%
2.5%
2.4%
2025
April
2.7%
3.0%
1.3%
2.3%
2025
May
3.0%
3.8%
2.6%
2.4%
2025
June
3.0%
3.2%
1.5%
2.7%
2025
July
2025
August
2025
September
2025
October
2025
November
2025
December
2025
Annual Average
Date of last update: 8/12/2025
a Weighted average of the consumer price indexes for Los Angeles -Long Beach -Anaheim, San Francisco - Oakland -Hayward, San Diego -Carlsbad, and Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario. A conversion factor has been included for comparability of 2018 data with 2017 and prior years. Computed by the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director - Research Unit from indexes issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. b Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning with the November 2017 data, indexes for San Diego -Carlsbad will be published bi-monthly on odd months only (January, March, May, etc.).
The Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario indexes are on a December 2017 = 100 base and will be published bi- monthly on odd months only (January, March, May, etc.).
State of California
Department of Industrial Relations
http://www.dir.ca.gov/OPRL
Office of the Director- Research Unit
P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco, California 94142
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles -Long Beach -Anaheim, San Francisco -Oakland -Hayward, San Diego -Carlsbad, Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario, United States City Average, 2024-2025 All Items
1982 - 1984 = 100
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, percentage (%) change from previous year Year
Month
Californiaa
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Anaheim
San
Francisco
Oakland
Haywardb
San Diego
Carlsbadb
Riverside
San
Bernardino
Ontariob
U.S. City
Averageb
2024
January
2.0%
3.6%
3.1%
2.9%
2024
February
3.2%
3.0%
2.9%
3.1%
2024
March
3.9%
3.6%
4.8%
3.5%
2024
April
4.0%
3.9%
4.0%
3.4%
2024
May
3.7%
3.4%
4.4%
3.3%
2024
June
3.1%
2.9%
3.0%
2.9%
2024
July
3.1%
3.3%
2.8%
2.9%
2024
August
2.5%
2.6%
2.4%
2.4%
2024
September
2.6%
2.2%
1.5%
2.2%
2024
October
2.3%
2.7%
2.3%
2.4%
2024
November
3.1%
2.4%
1.2%
2.6%
2024
December
2.9%
3.4%
2.1%
2.8%
2024
Annual Average
3.0%
3.1%
2.8%
3.0%
2.8%
2.9%
2025
January
3.5%
3.8%
2.9%
3.0%
2025
February
3.2%
3.4%
2.7%
2.7%
2025
March
3.1%
3.6%
2.6%
2.2%
2025
April
2.7%
2.9%
1.6%
2.1 %
2025
May
3.1%
3.4%
2.8%
2.2%
2025
June
3.0%
3.3%
1.9%
2.6%
2025
July
2025
August
2025
September
2025
October
2025
November
2025
December
2025
Annual Average
Date of last update: 8/12/2025
a Weighted average of the consumer price indexes for Los Angeles -Long Beach -Anaheim, San Francisco - Oakland -Hayward, San Diego -Carlsbad, and Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario. A conversion factor has been included for comparability of 2018 data with 2017 and prior years. Computed by the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director - Research Unit from indexes issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. b Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning with the November 2017 data, indexes for San Diego -Carlsbad will be published bi-monthly on odd months only (January, March, May, etc.).
The Riverside -San Bernardino -Ontario indexes are on a December 2017 = 100 base and will be published bi- monthly on odd months only (January, March, May, etc.).