title
Proposed Charter Amendment to Increase Salaries for Members of the City Commission (B)
recommendation
The City Charter Review Commission discuss the draft charter amendment ordinance and receive public comment
explanation
At its meeting on February 3, 2020, the City Charter Review Commission (CCRC) discussed its 11 proposed charter amendments, received the written analysis prepared by the City Charter Officers and voted to direct the City Attorney to draft a Charter amendment ordinance to increase the annual salary for each member of the City Commission by using the formulas contained in Sections 145.031 and 145.19, Florida Statutes, with the Mayor receiving an additional $10,000, and with such increases to be implemented evenly over a five-year period beginning October 1, 2021.
At its meeting on March 2, 2020, the CCRC discussed this item and continued it to the March 18th meeting which was subsequently cancelled as a result of the Declared Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order for this item to move forward to public hearing, the City Attorney's Office prepared this ordinance in accordance with the CCRC direction given during its discussions and in accordance with legal requirements (Section 101.161, Florida Statutes) that each ballot question and ordinance clearly inform the voters of the true effect of the proposal so that they will not be misled and may intelligently cast their vote
This Charter amendment proposed by the City Charter Review Commission (the CCRC) would place the following ballot question on the November 3, 2020 general election ballot: "SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL SALARIES OF THE MAYOR FROM $44,209.91 TO $70,550.06 IN EQUAL INCREMENTS OVER FIVE YEARS FROM 2021 TO 2025 AND COMMISSIONERS FROM $34,736.32 TO $60,550.07 IN EQUAL INCREMENTS OVER FIVE YEARS FROM 2021 TO 2025, FOLLOWED WITH AUTOMATIC ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE CHANGE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX; AS PROPOSED BY ORDINANCE NO. ______?" The draft ordinance is attached as back-up to this agenda item.
The ordinance establishes the desired base salary in 5 years ($70,550.06 for the Mayor and $60,550.07 for each Commissioner - calculated per the statutory formulas) then subtracts the current 2020 salaries ($44,209.91 for the Mayor and $34,736.32 for each Commissioner) and divides by 5 to establish the annual increase for the next 5 years in order to get to the desired base salary. The ordinance then establishes an annual increase for year 6 and each year thereafter based on the language in City Code Section 2-66 that currently establishes Commission salaries.
In order to be placed on the ballot, per 5.01(2) of the City Charter, the CCRC shall hold at least three public hearings that are a minimum of seven calendar days apart, on any proposed charter amendment(s). No charter amendment shall be submitted to the city electorate for adoption unless favorably voted upon by a majority of the entire membership of the CCRC. No later than six months prior to the November general election (in this case, by May 3, 2020), the CCRC shall deliver its proposed charter amendments to the city commission. The city commission may veto a proposed charter amendment by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the city commission. For all proposed amendments that are not vetoed, the city commission shall adopt an ordinance requesting the county supervisor of elections place those proposed amendments on the next November general election ballot. The clerk of the commission shall deliver the ordinance to the county supervisor of elections no later than four months prior to the November general election (in this case, by July 3, 2020.)
Another alternative is for the CCRC to consider recommending to the City Commission that it adopt an ordinance amending City Code Section 2-66 that currently establishes Commission salaries. This approach retains budget flexibility, as the Code can easily be amended by ordinance by future City Commissions.
fiscal note
The cost of increased salaries for members of the City Commission is estimated to be $181,222.73 per year.