HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3C - Public CommentFrom:david.vignolo@verizon.net
To:City Clerk
Subject:Public Comment for Council - Item 3C - July 14 City Council Regular Meeting - CVRA WORKING GROUP
RECOMMENDATION - REDUCING BARRIERS TO RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND WORKING ON CITY
COUNCIL
Date:Tuesday, July 12, 2022 3:51:35 PM
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Regarding Item 3C, the CVRA Working Group Recommendations on reducing barriers to running for
city council and working on city council: I commend the working group on its efforts to look at ways
to reduce barriers to running for City Council and working on City Council, as well as policies to
increase diversity on the City’s many Boards and Commissions. As a former federal government
employee for over 26 years, I understand the importance of attracting and retaining qualified
individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds to ensure the best outcomes for all
constituents. However, I caution Council on moving too quickly to implement specific
recommendations without a rigorous assessment and public review of the fiscal impact of these
policies. As the working group noted, childcare costs have skyrocketed in the United States in
recent years, and the availability of childcare services is limited in the region. Affordable childcare is
a problem for many parents who work outside of public service. I am not aware of any other
governmental employer in our region that provides this amenity to its employees. Adoption of these
policies, although well-intentioned, may send the wrong message to members of our community,
who already have a negative view of government institutions and those who serve in them. Thank
you for your consideration.
Regards,
David A. Vignolo
2041 S Madrona Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92264-9220
(202) 409-5113
david.vignolo@verizon.net
7/14/2022
Public Comment
Item 3C
Mayor Middleton
Members of the City Council
City Manager Justin Clifton
July 14, 2022, 2022
Re: Palm Springs City Council Salaries
Members of the Palm Springs City Council,
I was one of the Co-Chairs of the CVRA Working Group
whose 2019 recommendations you are reviewing tonight. I
am writing to ask that the Council to move forward tonight
with increasing City Council Members’ salaries, as well of
the other recommendations of the CVRA (staffing for City
Council, a car allowance and day care) we made to the
City Council in 2019.
.
Removing barriers to service on the Palm Springs City
Council was one of the key priorities in the CVRA Working
Group report.
Whether defined as full time or part time, service on the
Palm Springs City Council now makes full time outside
work impossible for City Council. City Council members
devote daytime, evening and weekends to fulfill their
duties to the community. It is my understanding that four of
the five members on the current Council have either given
up any outside employment or have reduced hours
because of the demands of their service.
7/14/2022
Public Comment
Item 3C
If the Council does not provide an adequate salary for its
members, we face the danger that only residents who are
wealthy, comfortably retired, or have partners with high-
income jobs will be able to afford to take on this important
public service, to devote the time that service requires.
This is especially true for young people in the workforce,
working mothers and minority members of our community.
The annual salary for City Council members currently
stands at $29,196 and $41,500 for the mayor. It has not
increased since 2007. At $29,195 the current city council
salary is less than the current California minimum wage
($31,200 at $15/hour for a 40-hour week). Once rent or
mortgage, utilities, food, gas, and other basic expenses
are calculated there is virtually nothing left to live on for
one person in our increasingly expensive city, to say
nothing of the resources needed to support a family.
Since council adopted the current salary ordinance in
2007, inflation in California has risen at least 72.1% (and
possibly higher in Riverside County which currently has
the highest inflation rate in the country in 2022 at 9.4%).
Yet our council salaries have remained stagnant because
of the formula for adjusting council salaries is tied to raises
in a series of general law cities whose increases are
governed and kept low by state law.
Had our statute indexed city council salaries to inflation,
the current salary of a city council member would be at
least $50,246.32 and the mayor’s salary would
be $71,412.50.
7/14/2022
Public Comment
Item 3C
To encourage broader participation in elections and a
more representative and diverse array of candidates, the
Original CVRA Working Group Report recommended
increasing the salary of the City Council to at least an
amount that recognizes the financial impact of service to
council members. This can’t be done without modifying the
current ordinance and indexing that ordinance for inflation
so that future councils don’t face this issue in the future.
Some options for consideration for setting council
members’ salaries include:
1.$70,030 -the salary for a manager in California, which
currently stands at $70,030
2. $68,926 -60% of the salary of a member of the
California State Legislature
3. $57,016 the Palms Springs median family income,
4. $50,247 – current salaries indexed to current inflation.
And of course, a City Council member with sufficient
means, can always opt to not draw a salary.
I know that this will not be an easy action for you to action
now.
Respectfully,
Kathy Weremiuk
7/14/2022
Public Comment
Item 3C