LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday reached consensus to pursue a salary increase for its members and supported having staff work on the implementation of a tobacco retail license program.
During public comment at the start of the meeting, city staff read numerous comments from residents of Pond Road who were concerned about the possible relocation of the city’s corporation yard to their neighborhood.
Earlier this year, after the council determined that a city-owned property on Ogulin Canyon Road wasn’t suitable for the corporation yard – currently located at the former Pearce Field airport property which the city wants to see used for a shopping center – the city began looking at other locations, including co-locating the yard at the Special Districts facility on Pond Road.
Pond Road residents who submitted comments raised issues with traffic, noise, lighting, crime and a host of other concerns.
City Manager Alan Flora told the council that city staff held a neighborhood meeting with residents, with both Mayor Russ Cremer and Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten in attendance, to hear their concerns.
“Just so all of you know, we’re looking at other additional sites within the city,” said Flora, nothing that when staff has an analysis prepared, they will bring the matter to the council for an agendized discussion.
The two main items on the agenda included a discussion requested by Councilman Phil Harris regarding raising council members' salaries. Harris, in his first term, is not seeking reelection this fall.
City Attorney Ryan Jones gave the council an overview of council compensation. “It is set very clearly in government code,” and is based on population size.
The current council salary is $300 per month, which was approved in 1989. While statute sets the maximum salary for cities with a population of fewer than 35,000 people at $300 per month, Jones said the state law also allows an annual salary adjustment of 5 percent per calendar year above that amount.
If the council wanted to catch up with the 5 percent for each of the past 31 years, it would raise total monthly salaries to $765, staff reported.
The written staff report from Flora and Jones said the city’s current total cost for council salaries is $18,000. They also get health care benefits, the total costs for which average between $30,000 and $40,000 per year.
If the council implemented the $765 per month stipend, total costs would increase from $18,000 to $45,900 or from $3,600 to $9,180 per year for each council member, Flora and Jones’ report said.
The increase wouldn’t go into effect until after the November general election, Jones said.
Harris asked if, beyond the stipend, there is the ability to provide the same benefits packages to council members as offered to employees. Jones said yes, and that some other councils also offer benefits like life insurance.
Harris said medical benefits are one aspect, and he also wanted life insurance and retirement to be considered.
Comments from community members on the item questioned whether it was wise to proceed.
“This does not seem like a good time to discuss an increase,” said local Realtor Dave Hughes in a letter to the council.
Others on the city’s Town Hall site questioned the raise, suggesting it wait a few years.
One city resident, Terry Stewart, said he thought the raise was “long overdue” and suggested that the compensation be doubled to $600. “I think this amount would be more in line with other small cities in our area, as compared with the maximum available increase.”
“We’re not necessarily doing it for ourselves, we’re doing it for the future,” said Councilwoman Joyce Overton.
Overton said it costs money to go to the council meeting, and during the discussion she said early in her council career she had considered quitting because of the out-of-pocket expenses, which she estimated totaled $60,000 in her first eight years.
“I think this is the wrong time to do this,” said Slooten.
Cremer said he agreed with Harris about the need to do it. “The cost of living has gone up,” he said, adding the council members aren’t going to get rich off the increased salary.
Harris suggested increasing the monthly salary for council members from $300 to $500. He said it’s a way of making sure they get the right people, who truly care, and not just those who have the means to serve. Overton agreed.
Harris, noting he wasn’t seeking reelection, said, “There’s an ongoing commitment I have to make sure the right people take the seats on the dais.” He added he wanted to make sure the city is reaching out to as many people as possible.
He suggested an increase to $500 per month, with the additional 5 percent raise per year.
Councilman Russ Perdock said he came to the meeting on the fence about the issue. He said when he was initially on the council and working on commission as an insurance agent, he lost a lot of money. At the same time, he said he thinks it’s a tough time to ask for a raise.
Cremer agreed with Harris on the $500 per month amount, calling it “reasonable” and saying it was supported by a League of California Cities analysis of city council salaries included in the staff report.
“I really believe this is the wrong time to do it,” said Slooten, noting local businesses are struggling. He said an additional $200 per month isn’t going to bring in higher quality people.
Jones ultimately received consensus from the council to bring the matter back. Jones said he will draft an ordinance with options and come back at the next meeting later this month.
“The council can decide at that point,” he said, noting the ordinance would need to pass two readings.
In other business, the council supported staff working to create a tobacco retail license program, with Flora reporting that there is grant funding available to implement it.
On Aug. 13, a moratorium expires which the council put in place on retail tobacco outlets like smoke shops and vapor lounges. Flora said that moratorium has been extended as long as it can.
During the discussion, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said the county has discussed a similar program, but it’s been put on the backburner since Public Health – which was directing it – has been dealing instead with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flora said funding should be available after the end of the year, and staff will bring back details to the council.
He said the staff had been waiting for funding availability to implement the program. “That’s why you’re seeing it now.”
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