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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
January 18, 2000 .
4H
Frank Boyles, City Manager
AGENDA ITEM:
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE OO-XX AMENDING
SECTION 105.300 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE RELATING
TO THE SALARY OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS.
DISCUSSION:
History
The salary for the Mayor is $350 per month ($4200 per year), and the
salary for Council members is $250 per month ($3000 per year).
Those salaries have been in effect since 1986 -- thirteen years ago.
State statute provides that salaries may be raised by Ordinance if
effective following the date of the local election.
Current Circumstances
As part of the budget preparation process for the 2000 Budget, I
obtained survey data of the salaries of Mayors and City
Councilmembers in the metropolitan area with populations between
10,000 and 20,000 (see attached).
The findings were that of the 19 communities surveyed, Prior Lake
ranked lowest for both Mayor and City Council member salaries. The
average for the 19 communities was $5650 annually for Mayor, and
$4550 for Councilmembers.
The Issues
I am concerned about these unusually low Mayor and City Council
salaries. The purpose of the salary is to defray expenses incurred by
the Mayor and Councilmembers in their day-to-day City work
activities. I am aware that the present salaries do not accomplish that
objective. Moreover, since a pay increase will not be effective until
January 1, 2002, the salaries will fall even further behind.
Citizens should not be financially punished for exercising their civic
responsibilities as elected officials. To do so could have the
unfortunate impact of reducing the activity level of incumbents. Even
more important, it could impact the quality of future candidates for
City Council.
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
T
FISCAL IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
City Council Agenda Report 4H
January 18, 2000
Page 2 of 2
Conclusion
I believe that based upon current data, the monthly salary for the
Mayor and Councilmembers should be increased by $100 per month
immediately. This increase will bring the Mayor and Council annual
salaries to $5400 aild $4200 respectively. The 1999 average for the
19 communities is $5650 for Mayor and $4550 for Councilmembers.
Since any increase will not be effective until January 1, 2002, I
recommend that the above proposed increase be adjusted by 3% for
each year (2001 and 2002). This would bring the annual Mayor salary
to $5700 and the annual City Councilmember salary to $4500.
The proposed salary increase cannot be effective until after the next
regular City election and therefore any increase would be effective for
the 2002 Budget.
(1) Adopt Ordinance OO-XX Amending Section 105.300 of the Prior
lake City Code Relating to the Salary of the Mayor and
Councilmembers effective January 1, 2002.
(2) Take no action.
Alternative (1).
I:\COUNCIL\AGNRPTS\2000\O 118_ 4H.DOCKelly Meyer
ORDINANCE OO-XX
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 105.300
OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE RELATING TO THE
SALARY OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
The Prior Lake City Council hereby ordains as follows:
1. Subsection 105.300 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Salaries: The Mayor's salary is hereby established at tMeB four
hundred seventy-five dollars ($350.00) ($475.00) per month. The
salary of each City Councilmember is hereby established at #we three
hundrec!J seventy-five A.. t:tl NflJ _'_::...1 b ($250.00) ($375.00) per month.
The Mayor's and Councilmembers' salaries shall be reviewed by the
City Council every two (2) years on even years at the time the City
budget is considered by the Council. This subsection shall take effect
ona day attar the on January 1st of the year next succeeding the
City-wide election.
2. This ordinance shall be effective following passage and publication on January 1. 2002.
Mayor ATTEST:
City Manager
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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AMM City-Council Salary Survey
1999 1999
Municipality Annual Annual
(10,000 to 20,000 pop.) Mavor Council
r
Columbia Heights 9,000 7,800
Robbinsdale 8,294 6,615.
Stillwater 7,200 . 6,000
Hastin.gs 6,600 4,800
Savage 6,120 5,040
Shakopee 6,120 5,100
Chanhassen 6,000 4,800
Ramsey 6,000 4,500
Hopkins 5,200 4,000
Lino Lakes 5,100 4,080
Mounds View 5,100 4,500
Ham Lake 4,700 4,000
West St. Paul 4,620 3,960
Chaska 4,500 3,600
Mendota Heights 4,500 3,000
Anoka 4,200 3,570
North St. Paul 4,200 3,000
Prior Lake 4,200 3,000
Rosemount 4,200 3,600
$5,650 Ave. $4,550 Ave.
2000 PROPOSED... $5,400 $4,200
...
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