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Home My WebLink About2022-10-11; City Council; ; Introduce an Ordinance Regarding Compensation for the City Clerk and City TreasurerCA Review CKM Meeting Date: To: From: Staff Contact: Subject: District: Oct. 11, 2022 Mayor and City Council Scott Chadwick, City Manager Cindie K. McMahon, City Attorney attorney@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5986 Sheila Cobian, Legislative and Constituent Services Director sheila.cobian@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2917 Introduce an Ordinance Regarding Compensation for the City Clerk and City Treasurer All Recommended Action Introduce an ordinance creating an annual process for the City Council to consider adjusting the salaries paid to the elected City Clerk and City Treasurer. Executive Summary The compensation for the elected City Clerk and City Treasurer positions is set by Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.020 and is currently $1,070 per month. No adjustments have been made to the salaries since 2007. The proposed ordinance would provide a mechanism for the City Council to review the salaries each year at the same time that the City Council considers adjusting the council members’ salaries. As with the council members’ salaries, the ordinance limits any adjustments to the City Clerk’s and City Treasurer’s salaries by an amount not to exceed the amount set by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. Also as with the council members’ salaries, the ordinance provides the City Council may not enact retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was not approved. The idea for an annual review process for the City Clerk and City Treasurer, akin to the process established for the City Council members, was discussed by the former Carlsbad Municipal Code and City Council Policy Update Subcommittee. Although the subcommittee did not have an opportunity to consider a proposed ordinance before the subcommittee ended, the subcommittee agreed an ordinance on this topic should be presented to the City Council for consideration. Discussion The last time the City Clerk and City Treasurer’s salaries were adjusted was in January 2007, when they were raised from $970 per month to $1,070 per month. The City Council has not Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 1 of 6 considered an adjustment to the salaries of the City Clerk or City Treasurer in the fifteen years since then.1 In 2018, the City Council revised Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.010 to establish a method for adjusting the salaries of the Mayor and City Council. In November 2020, Carlsbad voters adopted Measure G, confirming this method. Section 2.04.010 requires the City Council to consider whether to adjust the Mayor and council members’ salaries every January by an amount not to exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. The proposed ordinance would require the City Council to consider whether to adjust the salaries of the City Clerk and City Treasurer at the same time it considers adjusting its own salaries. To be consistent with the salary adjustment method for the Mayor and council members, the ordinance also includes a limitation that any adjustment may not exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the City Council may not enact retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was not approved. The proposed ordinance does not require the City Council to adjust the salaries of the City Clerk and City Treasurer each year, but provides a mechanism to ensure that their salaries are reviewed each year and can be adjusted if the City Council desires to do so. In San Diego County, only National City and Oceanside have elected city clerks. The monthly salaries of their elected City Clerks are: In San Diego County only Escondido, La Mesa, National City and Oceanside have elected City Treasurers. The monthly salaries of their elected city treasurers are: Escondido $8,833 La Mesa $2,378 National City $919 Oceanside $2,215 It should be noted that the salary for the City Treasurer for the City of Escondido was set by voter initiative in 1986. The Escondido City Council has placed an item on the ballot for November 2022 which, if passed, would reduce the City Treasurer’s compensation to the same level as a City Council member (currently $34,061 annually or $2,838 per month). 1 Both positions also receive an automobile allowance. The amount of the automobile allowance is set by City Council resolution and is currently $2,400 per year. Additionally, as elected officials, both positions may participate in the same retirement, health and welfare benefit programs available to unrepresented management employees. National City $919 Oceanside $2,015 Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 2 of 6 Options If the City Council adopts the proposed ordinance it would go into effect 30 days after its adoption. At a meeting in January of 2023 the City Council would then consider adjusting the salaries of the City Clerk and City Treasurer by an amount not to exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. Any salary adjustment would occur at that time if approved by the City Council. The City Council could also direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would adjust the salaries of the City Clerk and City Treasurer in a different manner, or choose not to take any action on this matter at this time. Fiscal Analysis Introduction of this ordinance would not have any direct fiscal impact. The fiscal impact of any proposed future salary adjustments would be presented in January of each year, when the City Council considers the proposed salary adjustments. Next Steps The City Clerk Services Manager will prepare the ordinance for adoption at the next regular City Council meeting. Once adopted, the City Clerk Services Manager will publish the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation within 15 days. The ordinance will be effective 30 days following adoption. Environmental Evaluation This action does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Public Notification Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the state's Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date. Exhibits 1.City Council ordinance 2.Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.020 with proposed revisions highlighted Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 3 of 6 ORDINANCE NO. CS-435 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.04, SECTION 2.04.020-COMPENSATION-CITY CLERK AND CITY TREASURER WHEREAS, the voters of the City of Carlsbad at the June 3, 2008 election voted to change the powers and duties of the City of Carlsbad by adopting a City Charter; and WHEREAS, under the California Constitution, the City Council has plenary authority to legislate matters of local concern notwithstanding general laws to the contrary; and WHEREAS, the compensation of the City Clerk and City Treasurer is a matter of local concern; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad wishes to adopt a standing methodology that will govern future salary adjustments for the City Clerk and City Treasurer. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, ordains as follows that: 1.The above recitations are true and correct. 2.That Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.020 is amended to read as follows: 2.04.020 Compensation-City clerk and city treasurer. A.The compensation of the city clerk and city treasurer shall be set at $1,070 per month, payable biweekly. In January of each year, when the city council considers compensation adjustments under section 2.04.0l0(A), the city council shall consider whether to adjust the compensation for the city clerk and city treasurer. Adjustments to the compensation for the city clerk and city treasurer shall not exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. The city council may not enact retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was not approved. B.In addition to the compensation the city clerk and city treasurer receive under subsection (A) of this section, the city clerk and city treasurer shall receive an automobile allowance as established by resolution of the city council. EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption; and the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause the full text of the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance prepared by the City Attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption. Exhibit 1 Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 4 of 6 INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 11th day of October, 2022, and thereafter PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the_ day of ___ ..J 2022, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: CINDIE K. McMAHON, City Attorney MATT HALL, Mayor FAVIOLA MEDINA, City Clerk Services Manager (SEAL) Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 5 of 6 2.04.020 Compensation—City clerk and city treasurer. A. The compensation of the city clerk and city treasurer shall be set at $1,070.00 per month, payable biweekly. In January of each year, when the city council considers compensation adjustments under section 2.04.010(A), the city council shall consider whether to adjust the compensation for the city clerk and city treasurer. Adjustments to the compensation for the city clerk and city treasurer shall not exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. The city council may not enact retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was not approved. B. In addition to the compensation the city clerk and city treasurer receive under subsection (A) of this section, the city clerk and city treasurer shall receive an automobile allowance as established by resolution of the city council. Exhibit 2 Oct. 11, 2022 Item #4 Page 6 of 6