Pasadena’s Committee on City Councilmembers’ Compensation will examine how much time council members spend on city business when it meets Monday, July 28, starting at 6 p.m.
A recent survey found councilmembers spend between 5 and 20 hours weekly on district meetings, community events and constituent services. One respondent noted constant demands on their time.
“There is a constant demand on my time, especially to attend meetings and events,” one councilmember wrote in the survey.
The committee will also review current allowances available to the seven-member council and mayor, according to a memorandum by Deputy City Manager Alex Souto. These include monthly general expense allowances, computer equipment funds and telecommunications reimbursements.
Councilmembers receive up to $300 monthly for general expenses like coffee with constituents or community event tickets, the report said. The mayor gets $500 monthly. Both can claim up to $150 monthly for phone and internet costs, with the mayor eligible for $300.
Usage rates vary widely across categories, Souto found. General expenses see 55% average use while cell phone allowances are used just 11% on average.
The city provides $5,000 per term for computer equipment and $300 for cell phone purchases. Between fiscal years 2016 and 2025, computer allowances averaged 35% usage.
A comparison with 11 similar California cities shows Pasadena’s mayor compensation ranks seventh, according to the memorandum. The mayor receives $2,911 monthly, 16% above the $2,500 median. Council pay of $1,941 falls 2% below the $2,000 median.
Sacramento leads with $15,372 monthly for mayors and $9,277 for councilmembers. Fresno pays similar amounts, the memorandum showed. At the low end, Santa Ana provides just $1,000 monthly for both positions.
Survey responses revealed varying time commitments among councilmembers. City Council meetings consume 5-6 hours weekly for most members. Preparation time ranges from 2-10 hours.
Committee and board meetings add 2-8 hours weekly. One member serves on multiple committees and outside boards as a council representative.
The memorandum also said working councilmembers face additional challenges attending daytime meetings and events. They are often required to use vacation time from their regular jobs for city business during work hours.
The committee may consider expanding current allowance categories, according to Suoto. A recent Charter Study Task Force suggested broadening childcare reimbursements to include family care expenses.
The task force also recommended a cafeteria-style benefits plan that would let councilmembers choose from categories like continuing education, health and wellness, or family car
Between fiscal years 2016 and 2025, the council shared a $16,500 annual budget for additional expenses like travel and conferences, the memonoted. Only 21% of this allocation was used on average.
Council compensation has grown 44% since 2005 without inflation adjustments, according to Souto’s report. California median family income rose 55% during the same period.
The committee will meet in the City Council Chamber at City Hall.
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