With Tammye McDuff. Hews Media Group-Community News
[Editor’s Note: Compensation for the members of the City Council of Culver City is $7500 per year plus health benefits for the length of their term in office.]
Two weeks ago, the City Council of Commerce participated in a first reading and voted to give themselves a hefty 35.5 percent pay increase.
The raise, with Councilman Ivan Altimirano making the first motion to vote, seconded by Councilman Joe Aguilar, was approved by Mayor Tina Baca Del Rio, Mayor pro-tem Lilia R. Leon, and Councilwoman Denise Robles.
After learning of the motion, Hews Media Group-Community News emailed the Mayor, Mayor pro-tem, and Council members for comment
Not one official responded.
The second reading to authorize the pay increase took place at last Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting. Only a majority needed to approve the raise.
This time the vote was 4-1 with Councilwoman Robles voting against the pay increase.
The $371.89 boost, would raise Council pay to $1,434 per month, up from $1,062.55, and will cost taxpayers an estimated $22,300 a year.
According to a Los Angeles Times analysis, the state guideline for Commerce City Council compensation is $12,191. The raise will take total pay to $17,208.
Adding other perks, such as health benefits and payment for sitting on special boards, total pay will increase from $26,293 to $31,310.
After the vote, Ms. Robles immediately was attacked by two of her colleagues.
An angry Mayor pro tem Lilia Leon lashed out at Ms. Robles saying, “so you approved the increase last week, and now you are voting no? Are you going to take the compensation?”
Ms. Robles responded: “I am not going to answer you right now. I will tell you in four months.”
To which Ms. Leon said, “The increase is next month, is it not?” She was corrected by staff, who told a perplexed Ms. Leon that the increase was to become effective in April.
Ms. Leon responded with “interesting.” She requested the conversation be placed “on the record.”
After the meeting Ms. Robles told , Hews Media Group-Community News that “Council has not had an increase in a few years. I do believe all should be compensated fairly. However, as the decisionmakers and leaders of not only making decisions to pay, we also make decisions for [resident] fees.”
Ms. Robles went on to say, “the Council has not reduced fees for residents to the level they were a few years ago. Thus I cannot justify an increase to our salary. We are in office to serve the people and do what is best for the residents. Fiscal responsibility is a must.
“I originally voted yes on the increase due to being intimidated by one of my colleagues. After all I have been through during my term, I admit I did not want to face controversy yet again. But at the second reading of the item, I voted no, as I had originally planned. I had to do what is right, even if I am not in the majority. As expected I was immediately taunted by two of my colleagues. As a public servant, I must continue to put the needs of the residents before my own.”
Once voters pick their next mayor and fill the Council seats in the March 3 election, the raise will take effect ia month later.
Because Commerce is a general law city, the current Council had to vote to increase the next Council’s pay, and California law allows them to increase salaries by an amount equal to 5 percent a year since the last adjustment.
That last adjustment was 2007 in Commerce’s case. The council voted to increase salaries as much as the law allows.
“Thirty-five percent is excessive,” said resident Mike Alvarado. “Imagine if your employee group came to you for that amount. You would say no, I know the Commerce Council would say no. Being a Councilmember is not intended to be a fulltime job.”
The reporters may be contacted at www.loscerritosnews.net
