Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2018-25: An ordinance of the Flagstaff City Council, amending Section 1-07-001-0005, Salaries, of the Flagstaff City Code, and establishing an effective date.

In accordance with Flagstaff City Code Section 1-07-001-0005(B), on the periodic review of councilmember salaries, in 2017 the City Manager convened a five-member citizen committee (Committee) comprised of the chairs of city commissions to review and provide a recommendation for councilmember salaries. Under the code as currently written, this review occurs every fourth year, before an election year. The Committee requested, and received, salary comparisons with other cities and pertinent cost of living information. After meeting on November 16, 2017 and December 7, 2016, the Committee made recommendations as set forth below.

On December 12, 2017, the City Council considered a possible ordinance based on the Committee's recommendation. Council did not adopt the proposed ordinance but opted instead to discuss possible amendments to pertinent Flagstaff City Code. Staff has prepared a proposed ordinance for Council discussion.

No sitting member of Council is eligible to receive any salary or compensation increase that may be voted upon unless and until he or she is re-elected to office at the next general election.

Committee recommendation:

A)  Adjust the annual salary of the Mayor from the current $36,000 to $38,500, effective upon the beginning of the Mayoral term following the next general election in November of 2018.
B) Adjust the annual salaries of councilmembers from the current $24,000 to $25,500, effective upon the beginning of the councilmember terms following the next general election in November 2018.  (Incumbent councilmembers elected in 2016 who are in the middle of their current term of office will not be eligible to receive this salary adjustment unless re-elected to office in the general election of November 2020.) Alternatively, the Ordinance provides the option for the City Council to determine that the raise in salaries will take effect only after all current terms of office have expired.

Additionally, the Committee made the following recommendations regarding the travel allowance and travel budgets of councilmembers:

1) Increase the Travel Allowance of the Mayor from the current annual amount of $2,520 to $3,000 effective July 1, 2018.
2) Increase the Travel Allowance of councilmembers from the current annual amount of $1,800 to $1,992 effective July 1, 2018.
3) Increase the City Travel Budget Account for the Mayor from the current annual amount of $2,478.57 to $4,125 effective July 1, 2018.
4) Increase the City Travel Budget Account for councilmembers from the current annual amount of $2,478.57 to $2,750 effective July 1, 2018.

Recommendations above are reflected in the attached potential ordinance; recommendations though are for Council consideration and discussion.

Staff is seeking direction from Council on the potential ordinance.