City of Boulder 2M – Untie City Council Pay from Meeting Attendance

Now that Boulder voters will elect the mayor directly starting in 2023 (see 2020 Ballot Question 2E), we should probably pay the future mayor. This year’s Question 2M proposes amending the city charter to do just that. It would also pay the mayor and council members for 52 meetings each year averaged over the year and paid according to the city employee schedule.

The language in Section 7 of the city charter about a meeting being “a gathering of a quorum of the council” – in other words, a “regular or special [council] meeting” – would be struck. The council members meet all together in public almost every Tuesday evening. Add in the annual retreat, the various committee meetings and celebratory events, and almost every council member actually attends 52 meetings per year. Council members also sometimes have back-to-back meetings which could potentially count as 2 meetings.

Unlike now, city council would get paid whether or not they attend meetings, but attendance is still expected. Section 8 of the city charter notes that 5 unexcused absences from regular council meetings result in the missing person’s seat becoming vacant.

The current charter language set compensation at $100 in 1990 dollars per meeting (now $239.40) for up to 52 meetings per year as defined above. This new language would standardize annual compensation for everyone on city council at about 52 x $240 = $12.480 (plus the current option of receiving city staff’s health, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits). Our new mayor would not receive more pay than the council members and is up for election every 2 years.

Recommendation: yes/for

Council members who have signed up for city insurance benefits, but then don’t get a paycheck because of the holidays or because of missing a council meeting then need to pay the city out of pocket for the per-paycheck deductions. Ballot Question 2M will make their lives and administrators’ lives easier.

Boulder council members are not paid very much. The city manager makes close to three times the combined pay of all the council members. I have long advocated for higher council pay.

Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a proponents’ website appreciated.

Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2M

Shall Section 7, "Compensation," of the Boulder City Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance No. 8477 to allow council members serving on January 1, 2022 and thereafter, and the mayor elected in November 2023 and thereafter, to receive compensation for fifty-two meetings each year on the same schedule as other city employees or on a schedule prepared by the city manager?

YES/FOR _____
NO/AGAINST _____

Ordinance No. 8477 to put Question 2M to the voters
Ordinance 8477 or go to https://bouldercolorado.gov/nov-2-2021-boulder-election-ballot-measures-and-candidates