65B - PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS

Home Browse Search

and fire chiefs. Given that the City no longer has a Fire Chief, the committee recommends eliminating this reference. In addition, the committee recommends that the police chief position be treated equally and that the position be at -will as with the other department head positions. Section 1002(c) of the Charter also provides that if an officer or employee holding a civil service position is appointed to a position exempt from civil service that person shall revert back to the protected position should he or she be removed from the exempt position. In other words, if a person servicing as an assistant department head is promoted to a department head position and does not work out as a department head then the person can return to the assistant position. The committee recommends deleting this provision because of the potential disruption it may cause to the organization when a person is promoted and their former position is filled. The Charter provision does not contain any time restrictions or provide for alternative placements. City Council Compensation California Constitution Article XI, section 5(b)(4) authorizes charter cities, such as the City of Santa Ana, to provide for the compensation of its officers in its voter - approved charter. Santa Ana Charter section 402 provides that Council Members shall receive compensation in the amount of $125 per month and the Mayor $200 per month. This compensation amount was set by the voters in 1958, more than 55 years ago. A survey of similarly situated charter cities with part-time elected officials demonstrates that Santa Ana elected officials are among the lowest compensated in the State of California, even though the City is one of the largest. The following information derived from City website postings or newspaper articles from 2009 or later. Most cities also provide health and welfare benefits and reimbursement for expenses or set allowances so the total compensation packages may be higher. City/Rank' Council Members Santa Ana (11) $1,500 per year Fresno (5) $65,000 per year Sacramento (7) $60,816 per year Bakersfield (9) $1,200 per year Anaheim (10) $18,000 per year Riverside (12) $39,408 per year Irvine (16) $10,560 per year Huntington Bch (23) $2,101 per year" '(HB allows additional pay, range $1,500 to $24,432) Garden Grove (25) $7,200 per year Pasadena (40) $16,903 per year Santa Monica (80) $12,888 per year Newport Beach (85) $14,872 per year "Ranking identifies largest cities based on population. 65B -2 Mayor $2,400 per year $130,000 per year $115,550 per year $24,000 per year $15,300 per year $78,828 per year $10,560 per year $2,101 per year $5,832 per year $25,354 per year $15,467 per year $21,101 per year