Shall the City Council need voter approval to change the method for making adjustments to their own base salary?
City of CarlsbadMeasure G Ordinance - Majority Approval Required
City of Carlsbad
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CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION. Shall Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code be adopted to prohibit city council compensation adjustments from exceeding the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, to require the city council to either make or waive a compensation adjustment in January of each year, and to prohibit the city council from enacting retroactive increases for years in which the city council waived a compensation adjustment?"
What is this proposal?
Pros & Cons — Unbiased explanation with arguments for and against
Information provided by League of Women Voters North County San Diego
The Question
The Situation
Currently the Carlsbad City Council may consider an adjustment to its compensation (base salary) each year in January up to the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, or permanently waive a compensation adjustment for the coming year.
The City Council is prohibited from enacting retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was waived. The compensation of each member of the City Council is set at $2052.17 per month, with the mayor receiving an additional $100 per month under city code.
The City Council compensation method is outlined in the Municipal Code, Secton 2.04.010. The Council may change the Code's compensation method without voter approval.
The Proposal
Measure G would confirm the method contained in Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.010 (A) for making adjustments to City Council base salary compensation, as enacted by the City Council in 2018. This method allows the City Council to consider a compensation adjustment each year in January.
The City Council may either adjust compensation up to the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index (Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, San Diego Area) or permanently waive a compensation adjustment for the upcoming year. The Measure prohibits the City Council from enacting retroactive compensation adjustments for years when the City Council waived a compensation adjustment.
A YES vote would mean the City Council may not change the compensation method without voter approval.
A NO vote would retain the compensation method in effect, but the City Council may change it without voter approval.
Fiscal effect
The annual fiscal effect of the Measure will depend on the annual increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, and whether the City Council chooses to make or waive a compensation adjustment in a given year.
Supporters say
- The Measure will require the City Council, a part time position, to make or waive a compensation adjustment in January of each year based on the San Diego County Consumer Price Index, in keeping with good governance.
- City Council members would continue to be prohibited from enacting retroactive increases in compensation for those years in which the City Council waived an adjustment, keeping the focus on public service rather than on compensation.
- Currently Carlsbad City Council pay is comparable to similarly sized cities in North San Diego. Measure G is an example of good governance because the focus is on public service, not compensation.
The factual accuracy of the above arguments has not been verified by any official entity.
Opponents say
No argument against Measure G was filed in the Office of the City Clerk.
Measure Details — Official information about this measure
YES vote means
If the voters pass the Measure, the City Council may not change the method [for making adjustments to City Council compensation] without further voter approval.
NO vote means
If the voters do not pass the Measure, the compensation method will remain in effect, but the City Council may change the method without the need for voter approval.
Impartial analysis / Proposal
Source: Carlsbad City Attorney's Office / Carlsbad City Clerk
CITY ATTORNEY’S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
The City Council placed Measure G on the ballot. If voters pass the Measure, the Measure will confirm the method contained in Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.04.010(A) for making adjustments to City Council compensation (base salary). The method was enacted by the City Council in 2018 and allows the City Council to consider a compensation adjustment in January of each year. The City Council may either make a compensation adjustment up to the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index or permanently waive a compensation adjustment for the upcoming year. The Measure prohibits the City Council from enacting retroactive compensation adjustments for years in which the City Council waived a compensation adjustment. The annual fiscal impact of the Measure depends on the annual increase in the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index and whether the City Council decides to make or waive a compensation adjustment. If the voters pass the Measure, the City Council may not change the method without further voter approval. If the voters do not pass the Measure, the compensation method will remain in effect, but the City Council may change the method without the need for voter approval.
/s/
CELIA A. BREWER
City Attorney, City of Carlsbad
The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure G. If you desire a copy of the measure, please call the City of Carlsbad’s City Clerk’s Office at 760-434-2808 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.
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Transcribed from this PDF:
https://cityadmin.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=45580
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Published Arguments — Arguments for and against the ballot measure
Arguments FOR
Arguments and rebuttals are the opinions of the authors. They are printed exactly as submitted, including errors.
Argument in Favor of Measure G
In July of 2020, the Carlsbad city council voted unanimously to place this measure on the ballot for the resident's [sic] consideration. If adopted, Measure G would prohibit city council compensation adjustments from exceeding the amount established by the San Diego County Consumer Price Index. The measure would require the city council either make or waive a compensation adjustment in January of each year. It would also prohibit the city council from enacting retroactive increases for years in which the city council waived a compensation adjustment.
The primary role of the city council is to define policy direction for the city and act as the city's legislative body. The position is part-time.
Currently, Carlsbad city council pay is comparable to similar size cities in North San Diego County. Measure G is a model for good governance because it keeps focus on public service, rather than on compensation. Vote YES on Measure G.
/signed/
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
Former Carlsbad City Councilmember
JULIANNE NYGAARD
Former Carlsbad City Councilmember
MARK PACKARD
Former Councilmember
PHIL URBINA
City Council Candidate
ANN J. KULCHIN
Former Mayor Pro Tem
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Transcribed from this PDF:
https://cityadmin.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=45573
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— Source: Carlsbad City Clerk's Office
Arguments AGAINST
[No official argument against Measure G was filed with the Carlsbad City Clerk.]
— Source: Carlsbad City Clerk's Office
Read the proposed legislation
Proposed legislation
MEASURE G
CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION
The people of the City of Carlsbad do ordain as follows:
Title 2, Chapter 2.04, Section 2.04.010(A) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is adopted to read:
The compensation of each member of the city council shall be set at $2,052.17 per month upon the effective date of this ordinance. Adjustments to city council compensation shall not exceed the amount established by the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index. Adjustments to city council compensation must be made or permanently waived by ordinance in January of each year. The city council is prohibited from enacting retroactive increases for years in which a salary increase was waived.
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Transcribed from this PDF:
https://cityadmin.carlsbadca.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=45532
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More information
News (2)
One local measure, council pay, on Carlsbad’s ballot — September 23, 2020 San Diego Union-Tribune
Carlsbad council salary increases placed on November ballot — July 29, 2020 The Coast News
Videos (2)
Educational
— September 18, 2020 League of Women Voters of North County San Diego
Unbiased information about 7 local measures on the Nov 3, 2020 ballot in North County communities. Discussion of Measure G begins 19 minutes and 8 seconds into the video.
Educational
— October 5, 2020 League of Women Voters North County San Diego
Información no partidista sobre las 7 medidas locales para las comunidades de Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside y Solana Beach en el norte del condado de San Diego en la boleta para las elecciones generales, el 3 de Noviembre 2020. La sección sobre la medida G comienza a los 14:16.
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Who supports or opposes this measure?
Yes on Measure G
Organizations (1)
- The Republican Party of San Diego County
Elected & Appointed Officials (0)
No on Measure G
Organizations (1)
- San Diego County Democratic Party
Elected & Appointed Officials (0)
