Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-2308, AMENDING SECTION 2707 (STIPEND AND EXPENSES) OF CHAPTER 7 (DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS) OF ARTICLE II (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE PLANNING COMMISSION STIPENDS FROM $50 PER MEETING TO $100 PER MEETING AND TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY STIPEND LIMIT FROM $200 TO $400 PER MONTH PER COMMISSIONER (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes. The current $50 per meeting and maximum of $200 per month stipend was set in 2005, by Ordinance No. 05-1335 adopted March 15, 2005. In light of the significant duties of the Planning Commission and the significant time commitment required for Planning Commissioners to adequately carry out their duties for each meeting, and in light of the significant inflation that has occurred in the 18+ years since the $50 stipend amount was set, it is reasonable to determine the current $50 stipend amount is insufficient to recognize the Planning Commissioners’ significant service to the City.
Staff recommends increasing the stipend from $50 per meeting to $100 per meeting and increase the monthly stipend limit from $200 to $400 per commissioner. This increase would more appropriately demonstrate a recognition of the commissioners’ service while still respecting the volunteerism concept, and that such an increase would constitute a responsible use of City funds that will serve to benefit the City and promote the public health, safety and welfare in the City by helping ensure the preservation of a quality City Planning Commission moving forward.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following action:
INTRODUCE for first reading, by title only with full reading waived, ORDINANCE NO. 23-2308, " AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2707 (STIPEND AND EXPENSES) OF CHAPTER 7 (DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS) OF ARTICLE II (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE PLANNING COMMISSIONER STIPENDS FROM $50 TO $100 PER MEETING, AND TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY STIPEND LIMIT FROM $200 TO $400 PER MONTH PER COMMISSIONER”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate that is consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
The Planning Commission is tasked with many important duties, including those set forth in City Charter Section 606 and CMC Section 2704. The Planning Commission meetings often require the Planning Commissioners to review hundreds of pages of agenda packet materials in order to prepare for meeting agenda items including public hearings which involve important decisions affecting the rights of the City and third parties such as applicants for development permits and property owners. Additionally, Planning Commission meetings can be lengthy. Between the time necessary to prepare for and attend the meeting, Planning Commissioners are frequently required to devote many hours to a single meeting in order to properly prepare for and carry out their duties for the particular meeting.
Planning Commissioners graciously volunteer their time in the interest of public service and for the benefit of the public health, safety and welfare in the City. Although the stipends authorized by the Charter and CMC are not meant to compensate commissioners as though they were City employees or contractors, they are meant to recognize the Commissioners’ public service.
The current Planning Commission has selflessly performed their duties as necessary despite the current stipend amount, an increase is needed to avoid disincentivizing current or future Planning Commissioners from devoting the time necessary to properly perform their duties, and to avoid discouraging members of the community from being willing to serve as Planning Commissioners moving forward.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2023/24 budget for Planning Commissioner stipends (account number 101-70-780-141-6157) is $10,800. This budget is established based on 9 commissioners and 3 alternates (12 total) at $50 per meeting ($600 per meeting) with an assumption of 18 meetings throughout the fiscal year. The worst-case fiscal impact for increasing the Planning Commissioner’s stipends from $50 per meeting to $100 dollars per meeting could potentially be as high as $57,600 assuming four (4) meetings per month or forty-eight (48) meetings. This worst-case scenario is based on 9 commissioners and 3 alternates (12 total) at $100 per meeting ($1,200 per meeting) and the maximum 48 meetings through the fiscal year. The fiscal impact is anticipated to be closer to $21,600 with the 18 meetings that are expected to be scheduled. The Planning Division budget includes funds to absorb the increase in Planning Commissioner stipends.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Proposed Ordinance No. 23-2308 (pgs. 4-6)
Prepared by: Saied Naaseh, Community Development Director