HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-14; City Council; ; City Council Compensation and Ballot Measure DiscussionCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: July 14, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Cindie McMahon, Assistant City Attorney
cindie.mcmahon@carlsbadca.gov, 760‐434‐2891
Sheila Cobian, City Clerk Services Manager
sheila.cobian@carlsbadca.gov, 760‐434‐2917
Subject: City Council Compensation and Ballot Measure Discussion
Recommended Action
1.Discuss and provide direction on placing a ballot measure on the Nov. 3, 2020, General
Municipal Election ballot relating to City Council compensation.
2.Discuss and provide direction on City Council compensation adjustments for 2019 and
2020.
Executive Summary/Discussion
On Sept. 18, 2018, the City Council introduced an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal Code
Section 2.04.010 relating to City Council compensation. The City Council also directed staff to
research the cost of adding the ordinance to a special election ballot, and if it was not
economical, to place the ordinance on the 2020 general municipal election ballot. If the
measure is approved by a majority of voters, the city would then have a community‐approved
method of increases to City Council compensation.
The City Council adopted the ordinance on Sept. 25, 2018, and it became effective 30 days later
on Oct. 25, 2018. The ordinance reads as follows:
2.04.010 Compensation.
A.The compensation of each member of the city council shall be set at $2,052.17 per
month upon the effective date of this ordinance. Adjustments to city council
compensation shall not exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional
Consumer Price index. Adjustments to city council compensation must be made or
permanently waived by ordinance in January of each year. The city council is prohibited
from enacting retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was waived.
B.The compensation established by this section is exclusive of any amounts payable to
each member of the city council as reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of official duties for the city.
The changes in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index were 3.4% in 2018 and 2.4% in
2019.
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The City Council meeting agendas for January 2019 and January 2020 did not include items
related to City Council compensation. Consequently, the City Council has never considered
whether to adopt an ordinance adjusting or waiving adjustments to City Council compensation
for 2019 and 2020.
The Carlsbad Municipal Code and the City Council Policy Update Subcommittee (made up of
Mayor Pro Tem Blackburn and City Council Member Cori Schumacher) recommends the City
Council discuss and provide direction on whether to place the ordinance on the ballot for the
general municipal election to be held on Nov. 3, 2020. To add a measure to the ballot for this
election, the City Council must adopt a resolution asking the San Diego County Board of
Supervisors to place the measure on the ballot and provide consolidation services1 by no later
than Aug. 7, 2020.
The subcommittee also recommends the City Council discuss and provide direction on whether
to adopt an ordinance adjusting or waiving adjustments to City Council compensation for 2019
and 2020.
Fiscal Analysis
Based on an estimate provided by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, staff estimates the
cost of adding the ballot measure to the Nov. 3, 2020, general municipal election ballot will be
approximately $60,000 to $100,000. If the City Council wishes to proceed with placing the item
on the ballot, the City Clerk’s Office would request that the election costs be funded by the City
Council contingency account at the time the resolution is brought forward.
If the City Council were to adopt an ordinance adjusting City Council compensation to reflect
changes in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index for 2018 and 2019, the City Council
members’ monthly compensation would increase from $2,052.17 to $2,121.94 and the Mayor’s
monthly compensation would increase from $2,152.17 to $2,221.94. (The Mayor receives
additional monthly compensation of $100 under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.020.)
The full fiscal impact, considering benefits in addition to compensation alone, is broken down
as follows:
2018 Adjustment $ 4,946
2019 Adjustment $ 3,657
Total Fiscal Impact $ 8,603
Next Steps
If the City Council chooses to place the measure on the Nov. 3, 2020, general municipal election
ballot, staff will return to the City Council with a resolution to add the item to the ballot and
request consolidation services from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
If the City Council chooses to adopt an ordinance adjusting or waiving adjustment of City
Council compensation for 2019 and 2020, staff will return to the City Council with an ordinance.
1 This refers to consolidating the city’s election with the county’s election.
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Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
This action does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental
Quality Act under Public Resources Code Section 21065 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.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and it was
available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1. Sept. 18, 2018, Staff Report – Compensation of the Members of the City Council
2. Sept. 18, 2018, City Council Meeting Minutes
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Exhibit 1
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Exhibit 2
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