HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-22; City Council; 21580; Presentation Salaries for Elected OfficialCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 12
AB# 21.580 PRESENTATION REGARDING SALARIES FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS
DEPT. DIREaOR
MTG. 04-22-14 PRESENTATION REGARDING SALARIES FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS CITY ATTORNEY
DEPT. CM
PRESENTATION REGARDING SALARIES FOR ELECTED
OFFICIALS CITY MANAGER ^h;#^
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
To receive a presentation from staff regarding the salaries of elected officials. The City Council may
provide direction if desired.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
Background
The City Council directed staff at the March 18, 2014 City Council meeting to research compensation for
elected officials and present the findings.
The current salaries of council members for the City of Carlsbad are as follows:
• Mayor - $17,868/year, plus an additional $75 per Community Development Commission meeting
(max $150 per month) and $100 per Water Board meeting (max $300/month)
• City Council - $16,668/year, plus an additional $75 per Community Development Commission
meeting (max $150 per month) and $100 per Water Board meeting (max $300/month)
• The Mayor and City Council also receive a monthly vehicle allowance of $450 and $350
respectively
The last salary adjustment for council members was a 5 percent decrease in 2009. According to
Government Code section 36516 the salaries of council members may be increased by an amount not to
exceed 5 percent for each calendar year from the date of the last adjustment. Although the council can
vote to increase salaries at any time, the increase in council members' salaries cannot take effect until
at least one council member begins a new term of office per Government Code section 36516.5.
Adjusting the salaries of council members for 5 percent per year from 2009 would result in a salary of
$22,335 per year for the Mayor (a $4,467 per year increase) and $20,835 per year for each council
member (a $4,167 per year increase). Such an increase could not take effect until after the next
municipal election.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Kathy Dodson (760) 434-2820, kathy.dodsonpcarisbadca.gov
FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY.
COUNCIL AaiON: APPROVED • CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC •
DENIED • CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN
CONTINUED • RETURNED TO STAFF •
WITHDRAWN • OTHER-SEE MINUTES •
AMENDED •
Page 2
Comparisons
The following is a comparison ofthe salaries of Carisbad elected officials with that ofthe other north
county cities.
City Annual Salaries Miscellaneous Additional
Benefits
Carisbad Mayor - $17,868
City Council - $16,668
$75 per Community
Development Commission
meeting (max $150 per month)
and $100 per Water Board
meeting (max $300/month) and
monthly vehicle allowance of
$450 and $350
Oceanside Mayor - $32,928.00
Council members - $30,528.00
Salary includes auto allowances
and stipends for other meetings
Vista Mayor-$32,659.12
Council members - $31,458.86
$147.75 per Buena Sanitation
District meetings (maximum
two meetings per month) and
$90 per month for cell phone
San Marcos Mayor & Council members -
$11,732
Car allowance ($300 per month)
Escondido Mayor - $62,148.72
Council members - $27,828.72
Salary includes auto allowance
Encinitas Mayor & council members -
$14,232
$350 per month auto allowance
Solana Beach Mayor & council members -
$8,550
None
Del Mar Mayor & council members -
$3,600
None
Poway Mayor-$16,336
Council members - $12,736
$3,600 annually for mileage and
$600 -$900 annually for cell
phone
El Cajon Mayor-$24,816
Council members-$17,208
Monthly car allowance for the
mayor is $550 and for council
members is $450.
Monthly "cafeteria plan"
benefit allowance for purchase
of medical, dental and vision
insurance benefits is $650 for
the mayor and $550 for the
council members.
Page 3
Charter Cities
Government Code sections 36516 and 36516.5 apply to general law cities. As a charter city, Carlsbad
may choose to follow the Government Code or enact its own ordinance with regard to salaries of
elected officials since this is a municipal affair (Cal. Const, art. XI, § 5(b).) The following is a summary of
the variety of different procedures regarding salary adjustments for city council members which other
charter cities in San Diego County follow:
• Chula Vista's city charter specifies that the Mayor shall receive a salary equivalent to 60% of the
salary of a judge of the Superior Court and council members shall receive salaries equivalent to
40% ofthe mayor's salary.
• Del Mar set City Council compensation per a vote of the people on 4/12/1988.
• El Cajon's municipal code allows for council salary adjustments only if there is a change in
population which would move El Cajon's population out ofthe 75,000-150,000 range. In that
case, the new compensation would be set per Government Code section 36516.
• Oceanside follows the salary adjustment limitations of Government Code section 36516.
• San Diego's charter specifies that the city council will vote on an ordinance each year to set
council member salaries based on recommendations from its Salary Setting Commission (a seven
member commission appointed by the Civil Service Commission to four year terms.)
• San Marcos' Municipal Code allows for an annual cost-of-living salary increase based on the
Consumer Price Index so long as that amount does not exceed 5%. If the CPI increase would
exceed 5% the Municipal Code requires that the issue go to the voters for approval.
• Santee votes on council salaries based on recommendations from its Salary Setting Advisory
Committee (an 8 member committee appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City
Council.)
• Vista sets its council salaries by ordinance and does not require that the adjustment take effect
at the beginning of a new council term.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact will be determined by any action taken.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPAa;
Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project" within the
meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment,
or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore does not
require environmental review.
EXHIBIT:
1. Salary & Benefits Offered to the City of Carisbad Elected Officials
2. California Government Code Sections 36516 and 36516.5
SALARY & BENEFITS OFFERED TO THE CITY OF CARLSBAD
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Base Salary Additional Pay for
Community Development
Comndission
Additional Pay for
Water Board
Mayor": $17 868 per year (eff 2/09)
City Council $16,668 per year (eff 2/09)
City Treasurer $12,840 per year (eff 1/1/07)
City Clerk $ 12 840 per year (eff 1/1/07)
Mayor & Council: $75 per meeting (max
$150/month)
Mayor & Council" $100 per meeting
(max $300/month)
Benefit Employer Contribution Elected Officiat Deduction
Basic Life Insurance: 2x annual salary varies n/a
Retirement Options
1) CalPERS defined benefit plan
2) APPLE 457 deferred comp
1) varies; defined by CalPERS
2) 3.75% of payroll
1) 6.75% -8% of payroll (depends on the tier)
2) 3.75% of payroll
Health Insurance: City Contribution (i.e.,
Benefits Credits) can be applied to Medical,
Dental, Vision or Flexible Spending Accounts
VARIES (see Flexible Benefits
Program for Management and
Elected Officials)
Any amount the employee spent on
applicable benefits in excess of the City
Contribution
State Unemployment Insurance 0.3% of payroll n/a
Medicare (If hired after 3/31/86) 1.45% of payroll 1.45% of payroll
Pers Survivor Benefits $24.18/yr n/a
Car Allowance S5,400/yr (Mayor)
$4 200/yr (City Council)
$2,400/yr (City Treasurer)
S2.400/yr (City Clerk)
n/a
Cell Phone Allowance (optional) $540/yr per Admin Order No. 69
Optional Benefits Employer Contribution Elected Official Deduction
Deferred Compensation (ICMA) (pre-tax) — Amount selected
Supplemental and Dependent Life — Varies
Accidental Death or Dismemberment — Varies
Accident Insurance — Varies
Critical Illness Insurance — Varies
Universal Life/Long Term Care Insurance — Varies
The Mayor's base pay Is set to $100/month more than the City Council's base pay
elected official beneits.doc updated 3/13/14
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EXHIBIT 2
California Government Code
Section 36516.
(a) (1) A city council may enact an ordinance providing that each member of the city council
shall receive a salary based on the population ofthe city as set forth in paragraph (2).
(2) The salaries approved by ordinance under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
(A) In cities up to and including 35,000 in population, up to and including three hundred
dollars ($300) per month.
(B) In cities over 35,000 up to and including 50,000 in population, up to and including four
hundred dollars ($400) per month.
(C) In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in population, up to and including five
hundred dollars ($500) per month.
(D) In cities over 75,000 up to and including 150,000 in population, up to and including six
hundred dollars ($600) per month.
(E) In cities over 150,000 up to and including 250,000 in population, up to and including eight
hundred dollars ($800) per month.
(F) In cities over 250,000 population, up to and including one thousand dollars ($1,000) per
month.
(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, the population of a city shall be determined by the
last preceding federal census, or a subsequent census, or estimate validated by the Department
of Finance.
(4) The salary of council members may be increased beyond the amount provided in this
subdivision by an ordinance or by an amendment to an ordinance, but the amount of the
increase shall not exceed an amount equal to 5 percent for each calendar year from the
operative date ofthe last adjustment ofthe salary in effect when the ordinance or amendment
is enacted. No ordinance shall be enacted or amended to provide automatic future increases in
salary.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), at any municipal election, the question of whether city
council members shall receive a salary for services, and the amount of that salary, may be
submitted to the electors. If a majority ofthe electors voting at the election favor it, all ofthe
council members shall receive the salary specified in the election call. The salary of council
members may be increased beyond the amount provided in this section or decreased below
the amount in the same manner.
(c) Unless specifically authorized by another statute, a city council may not enact an ordinance
providing for compensation to city council members in excess of that authorized bythe
procedures described in subdivisions (a) and (b). For the purposes ofthis section, compensation
includes payment for service by a city council member on a commission, committee, board,
authority, or similar body on which the city council member serves. If the other statute that
authorizes the compensation does not specify the amount of compensation, the maximum
amount shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per month for each commission, committee,
board, authority, or similar body.
(d) Any amounts paid by a city for retirement, health and welfare, and federal social security
benefits shall not be included for purposes of determining salary under this section, provided
that the same benefits are available and paid by the city for its employees.
(e) Any amounts paid by a city to reimburse a council member for actual and necessary
expenses pursuant to Section 36514.5 shall not be included for purposes of determining salary
pursuant to this section.
(f) A city council member may waive any or all ofthe compensation permitted by this section.
Section 36516.5.
A change in compensation does not apply to a councilman during his term of office; however,
the prohibition herein expressed shall not prevent the adjustment of the compensation of all
members of a council serving staggered terms whenever one or more members ofsuch council
becomes eligible for a salary increase by virtue of his beginning a new term of office.
Co..
Mayor & Council CompensationKathy DodsonApril 22, 2014
Current Compensation•Mayor ‐$17,868+$75 per Community Development Commission meeting+$100 per Water Board meeting+$450 per month vehicle allowance•City Council ‐$16,668 +$75 per Community Development Commission meeting+$100 per Water Board meeting+$350 per month vehicle allowance
Estimated Total Compensation•Mayor–$17,868 + ($75*2) + ($100*24) + ($450*12)–$28,818•City Council–$16,668 + ($75*2) + ($100*24) + ($350*12)–$23,418
North County ComparisonCity Position Salaries Benefits TotalCarlsbad Mayor $17,868 $7,950 $25,818Council $16,668 $6,750 $23,418Oceanside Mayor $32,928 $0 $32,928Council $30,528 $0 $30,528Vista Mayor $32,659 $4,626 $37,285Council $31,459 $4,626 $36,085San Marcos Mayor $11,732 $3,600 $15,332Council $11,732 $3,600 $15,332Escondido Mayor $62,149 $0 $62,149Council $27,829 $0 $27,829
North County ComparisonCity Position SalariesCarlsbad Mayor $17,868Council $16,668Oceanside Mayor $32,928Council $30,528Vista Mayor $32,659Council $31,459San Marcos Mayor $11,732Council $11,732Escondido Mayor $62,149Council $27,829
San Diego County Comparison•Mayor–San Diego County cities average $31,220 (at $17,868 Carlsbad is at 57% of average)•Council –San Diego County cities average $19,264 (at $16,668 Carlsbad is at 85% of average)
Options to Increase Compensation•Council may direct that compensation be increased by a maximum of 5%–Mayor (from $17,868 to $18,761)–Council (from $16,668 to $17,501) •Council may form a citizen’s committee to study compensation and make a recommendation to city council