City Council Meeting - FINAL

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12.E.

Meeting Date:	11/01/2022
From:	Shannon Anderson, Senior Deputy City Manager

Information

TITLE:

Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2022-29: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending section 1-07-001-0005, Salaries, of the Flagstaff City Code, and establishing an effective date.

STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:

At the November 1, 2022 Council Meeting:
1) Read Ordinance No. 2022-29 by title only for the first time
2) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2022-29 by title only (if approved above)
At the November 15, 2022 Council Meeting:
3) Read Ordinance No. 2022-29 by title only for the final time
4) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2022-29 by title only (if approved above)
5) Adopt Ordinance No. 2022-29

Executive Summary:

The City Code 1-07-001-0005 Salaries outlines the salary and benefits for Mayor and Council members along with the process for a review of these salaries. There was a request from the majority of City Council following the adoption of 2019-39 in February 2020 to review the salaries of Mayor and Council.

The City Council appointed four members to the Citizen Commission on Council Salaries during their April 19. 2022 meeting and the five commission members from Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation, Tourism, Water, and Transportation Commissions were identified between June and August 2022. The newly created Citizen Commission on Council Salaries met in September and October of 2022 to consider information such as examples of work, municipal and county benchmark data, consumer price index, minimum wage, cost of living, and living wages as they crafted their recommendation.

The City's website includes a webpage dedicated to the Citizen's Commission that includes the agendas, minutes and a form for members of the public to provide feedback. A press release was sent out on October 3, 2022 to encourage the public to share their feedback either online using the form on the website or to attend the October 12, 2022 meeting.

The Commission members finalized their recommendation during the October 12, 2022 meeting to include an increase in the Mayor's salary from $38,500 to $54,340 and Council's salary from $25,500 to $44,650 following the 2022 election. Then effective December 1, 2024 an increase in the Mayor's salary from $54,340 to $70,180 and Council's salary from $44,650 to $63,800. The recommendation also includes a change to the monthly routine travel and meals stipend for the Mayor from $150 to $200 with a City vehicle and $250 to $300 without a City vehicle and for Council member from $166 to $200 per month.

These recommendations recognize the irregular schedule of Council members and the difficulty to fit their responsibilities within a normal work schedule and compensates them appropriately for the time being spent fulfilling their duties and meeting community expectations. It also recognizes the role, responsibility, and impact of City Council member decisions. The recommended salary provides a sustainable wage that has the ability to attract quality and diverse candidates to fill Council vacancies. This aligns Council salaries closer to County Board of Supervisors and like community salaries while continuing the differential between Mayor and Council salaries.

Financial Impact:

The impact to salaries and the monthly routine travel and meals stipend will be accounted for in the annual budget process.

Policy Impact:

There are no other policy impacts.

Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan:

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives

These recommendations support Mayor and Council members and the City Councils works to meet all of the community priorities and objectives in effective governance, safe & healthy community, inclusive & engaged community, sustainable, innovative infrastructure, robust resilient economy, livable community and environmental stewardship.

Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:

No.

Attachments
Ord. 2022-29
Presentation