Since 1990 city council members have been compensated based on meeting attendance for up to four city council meetings a month. This measure would allow compensation for up to 52 meetings per year. It would likely result in an increase in compensation as the previous maximum was 48 meetings per year if every month had at least 4 meetings.
The compensation is currently $191.26 per meeting and is adjusted annually for inflation. In 2007 and 2008 respectively, voters rejected increasing compensation to $500 per meeting for up to 2 meetings per month and to $1000 per month with no attendance requirement.
Recommendation: For
City council members are the public’s representatives and should be adequately compensated, partly so that they feel obligated to take their jobs seriously and not just rubber stamp city staff’s work. This proposed compensation increase is relatively small and may have no influence on the work ethic of city council, but it is a step in the right direction.
An often-cited argument for passing 2C is that the city will attract more council candidates if we increase the compensation. Voters typically have a choice of substantially more candidates than vacancies on city council. We have also had a fair amount of diversity in the candidate pool, less so in the elected members. Perhaps the focus should be on helping members of underrepresented groups run good campaigns.
City of Boulder Ballot Question No. 2C (Approved Ballot Language)
Measurement by Year Rather Than by Month for Compensation for City Council Members
Shall Article II, Section 7, “Compensation,” of the Charter of the City of Boulder be amended as set forth in Ordinance No. 7860 to permit City Council members to be compensated for up to fifty‐two meetings per calendar year rather than four meetings per calendar month?
‐For the Measure
‐Against the Measure
See Ordinance No. 7860 to refer 2C to the voters.
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/Elections/2012/7860%20-%20Council%20Compensation.pdf
The compensation is currently $191.26 per meeting and is adjusted annually for inflation. In 2007 and 2008 respectively, voters rejected increasing compensation to $500 per meeting for up to 2 meetings per month and to $1000 per month with no attendance requirement.
Recommendation: For
City council members are the public’s representatives and should be adequately compensated, partly so that they feel obligated to take their jobs seriously and not just rubber stamp city staff’s work. This proposed compensation increase is relatively small and may have no influence on the work ethic of city council, but it is a step in the right direction.
An often-cited argument for passing 2C is that the city will attract more council candidates if we increase the compensation. Voters typically have a choice of substantially more candidates than vacancies on city council. We have also had a fair amount of diversity in the candidate pool, less so in the elected members. Perhaps the focus should be on helping members of underrepresented groups run good campaigns.
City of Boulder Ballot Question No. 2C (Approved Ballot Language)
Measurement by Year Rather Than by Month for Compensation for City Council Members
Shall Article II, Section 7, “Compensation,” of the Charter of the City of Boulder be amended as set forth in Ordinance No. 7860 to permit City Council members to be compensated for up to fifty‐two meetings per calendar year rather than four meetings per calendar month?
‐For the Measure
‐Against the Measure
See Ordinance No. 7860 to refer 2C to the voters.
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/Elections/2012/7860%20-%20Council%20Compensation.pdf
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