LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In a brief discussion at its Thursday night meeting, the Clearlake City Council voted to approve the first reading of an ordinance that will raise the monthly salary amount for council members.
The council had held an initial discussion on the topic at its Aug. 6 meeting and directed City Attorney Ryan Jones to return with a draft ordinance, as Lake County News has reported.
The current monthly salary for council members is $300, an amount that Jones said was set in 1989.
While, by state statute, that’s the maximum amount for cities with a population of under 35,000, Jones told the council at its Aug. 6 meeting that the law allows for 5-percent annual raises.
As such, the council faced the option of raising the current monthly amount by $465 – which is the amount of a 5-percent raise over the past 31 years – to a total of $765.
However, at its last meeting, the council settled on a smaller total figure, $500.
On Thursday, Jones presented a draft ordinance with the $500 monthly amount.
He also reported that the law does not allow the council to set up an automatic 5-percent raise each year. The council would have to take separate action to do that in the future.
The current annual cost for the council members’ salaries totals $18,000. By raising it to $500 per month, the total cost would rise to $30,000. Jones’ report said the additional funds would come from the city’s general fund.
That amount does not include the cost of health coverage for council members. A specific figure for that was not included in Jones’ report.
Following Jones’ brief presentation, there was no council discussion before Councilman Phil Harris – who had asked last month for the matter to be brought forward for discussion – moved to approve it, with Councilman Russ Perdock seconding.
The vote was 4-1, with Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten voting against it. Slooten had made clear at the Aug. 6 meeting that he thought it was a bad time to raise council members’ salaries.
If the council approves the ordinance’s second and final reading at its next meeting, the ordinance and the salary increase will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
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Clearlake City Council approves first reading of ordinance to increase council members’ salaries
- Elizabeth Larson
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