REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 08/07/2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: City Manager’s Office
SUBJECT:
Title
COUNCIL REMUNERATION UPDATE: CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-071 TO DETERMINE WHETHER AND IN WHAT AMOUNT COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY BE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE ON JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY (JPAs) OR OTHER LEGISLATIVE BODIES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On May 1, 2024 the City Council approved the second reading of Ordinance 3397 establishing a new Council pay schedule of $1,900 per month, as authorized by Senate Bill (SB) 329 and Government Code Section 36516(A). Staff researched whether Council Members who serve on certain JPAs, namely the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) and the Bedford Coldwater Groundwater Sustainability Authority (BCGSA), could be paid an additional stipend of $100 per month for serving on such boards. Ordinance 3397 could authorize Council Members to be compensated up to an additional $650 per month, based upon the SB 329 cap of $2,550 for a City of Corona’s size. Staff is seeking direction on which JPAs or other legislative bodies, if any, the Council deems eligible for additional compensation and what that compensation amount should be for each.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
a. If the Council identifies one or more JPAs or other legislative bodies eligible for additional compensation, and determines that the compensation be in an amount up to $100 per month for each, approve Resolution No. 2024-071 to effectuate such compensation beginning January 1, 2025.
b. Depending on the option chosen, authorize an appropriation up to an amount of $2,400 to the City Council’s operating budget from the General Fund 110.
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BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
April 17, 2024, the City Council introduced and, on May 1, 2024, adopted Ordinance 3397 amending Corona Municipal Code Section 2.08.120, in part to establish a new Council pay schedule of $1,900 per month, as authorized by Senate Bill (SB) 329 and Government Code (GC) Section 36516(A), which takes effect January 1, 2025.
In addition to the new Council pay schedule, Council Member Speake revisited a request from the 2023 Fall Council Workshop for staff to research whether Council Members who serve on certain JPAs, namely the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority and the Bedford Coldwater Groundwater Sustainability Authority, could be paid an additional $100 per month in compensation for serving on such boards. While some separate boards and agencies, such as the Riverside County Transportation Commission, have used separate statutory authority to pay their members directly, others, like WRCRWA and BCGSA, either do not have such separate statutory authority or have not used the authority they have to pay their members directly.
With assistance from outside legal counsel, the City Attorney's Office researched this issue and concluded that while GC Section 36516(C) does not clearly authorize such additional compensation, SB 329 and GC Section 36516(A) do. Accordingly, Ordinance 3397 included the following provision:
“2.08.120 Compensation.
. . . .
(C) Certain Other Legislative Bodies. The City Council may provide, by a resolution, for up to one hundred dollars ($100) per month in additional compensation for Council Members who are appointed by the City Council to serve and represent the City on a joint powers authority or other legislative body. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Council shall not provide for such additional compensation if either of the following are applicable: (1) a Council Member’s compensation would exceed the maximum amount then provided for in Government Code Section 36516(A) (currently $2,550); or (2) the joint powers authority or other legislative body already provides compensation for their service, other than reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by state law.”
ANALYSIS:
As you can see, Ordinance No. 3397 did not identify exactly which JPAs or other legislative bodies would qualify for up to an additional $100 per month in compensation but instead left that determination to be made later by Resolution of the City Council. That is the discussion and direction the staff is seeking tonight. The two JPAs requested to be considered by Council Member Speake included the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) and the Bedford Coldwater Groundwater Sustainability Authority (BC GSA), which we will discuss individually.
Any considerations for additional compensation provided for serving on a particular JPA and the amount of such compensation should reflect the time commitment and complexity of such service.
Nature & Responsibilities of Each JPA
WRCRWA
The Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) is a joint powers authority comprised of five member agencies. The purpose of WRCRWA is to provide regional wastewater collection and treatment services. The WRCRWA Board of Directors (Board) comprises one member from each of the member agencies - the Cities of Corona and Norco, Home Gardens Sanitary District, Jurupa Community Services District, and Western Municipal Water District. The Board meets five times yearly, and the executive committee meets regularly. The City of Corona is a member agency of WRCRWA with 2.62 million gallons per day of conveyance and treatment capacity. WRCRWA's FY 25 operating budget, including capital, operations, and labor, is $28.4 million (labor budget accounts for $4.2 million of the total cost). Currently, WRCRWA has approximately 13 full-time employees.
BCGSA
The Bedford Coldwater Groundwater Sustainability Agency (BCGSA) is a joint powers authority comprised of three members - the City of Corona, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, and Temescal Valley Water District. The Board meets quarterly throughout the year. BCGSA was formed in 2017 following the passing of the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. BCGSA acts as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Bedford Coldwater Groundwater Subbasin. BCGSA is responsible for developing Groundwater Sustainability Plans and management actions, as directed by those plans. BCGSA FY25 budget is $684,325. BCGSA does not have any full-time employees. The agency uses contractors and contracts with Elsinore Valley to provide the administration, fiscal and meeting coordination services. They also have a contract with WSC to provide the administration and implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
Direction Needed
The following information is needed to complete the attached Resolution 2024-071 for Council’s potential adoption:
WRCRWA
1. Should compensation be provided for serving on the WRCRWA Board?
⃣ YES
⃣ NO
2. If so, at what amount per month (max of $100)?
⃣ $25
⃣ $50
⃣ $75
⃣ $100
⃣ Other?
BCGSA
3. Should compensation be provided for serving on the BCGSA Board?
⃣ YES
⃣ NO
4. If so, at what amount per month (max of $100)?
⃣ $25
⃣ $50
⃣ $75
⃣ $100
⃣ Other?
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions to approve Resolution No. 2024-071 establishing compensation for City Council members will result in an appropriation up to an amount of $2,400 to the City Council’s operating budget from the General Fund 110.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may substantially affect the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action seeks approval from the Council regarding additional compensation for service on JPA’s or other legislative bodies and thus has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
PREPARED BY: AMINAH MEARS, DPA, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: BRETT CHANNING, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DEAN DERLETH, CITY ATTORNEY
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - Resolution No. 2024-071
2. Exhibit 2 - Ordinance 3397