City of Gresham
Measure No. 26-67
BALLOT TITLE
COUNCIL COMPENSATION CHARTER AMENDMENT
QUESTION: Shall the mayor and council be compensated for the services they provide the city?
SUMMARY: This measure amends the City Charter to authorize payment of a monthly stipend to the mayor and council for the services they provide to the city. Under the proposal, the mayor would receive $1,500 per month; each councilor would receive $1,000 per month. These stipends would be adjusted annually as warranted by the consumer price index. The measure would take effect at the commencement of the new fiscal year, July 1, 2005.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The current Gresham City Charter was adopted May 2, 1978. It was last revised by the voters on November 3, 1998. Pursuant to the terms of the charter, the city council convened a Charter Review Committee comprised of local citizens to complete a periodic review of the charter and address a variety of issues and concerns that had been raised regarding the document. On January 20, 2004, the 2003 Charter Review Committee unanimously recommended to council that a council compensation measure be referred to the voters for consideration. On August 3, 2004, council approved sending the measure to the voters at the November 2004 election.
The mayor and council are elected city officers and form the policy making body of the city. Other than reimbursement for city related expenses, city council members receive no compensation for the services they provide the city. The current charter does not authorize salary or compensation of any type to elected city officials. The duties and responsibilities of each elected officer are varied, as are the time commitments associated with such duties and responsibilities. The measure provides that the mayor receive a stipend of $1,500 per month, and each of the six councilors a stipend of $1,000 per month.
Under the City Charter and Gresham Revised Code the mayor's duties include acting as chair of the council and presiding over council meetings and deliberations; preserving council order and enforcing the established rules of the council; appointing council liaisons and citizens to various committees and commissions; executing all records of proceedings that have received council approval and all ordinances passed by council; and endorsing various bonds. In addition to these responsibilities, the mayor works with the city manager to prepare meeting agendas, review items for presentation to council, and clarify matters for which council approval is sought; works with regional leaders, other members of the council and city staff to protect the interests of Gresham citizens throughout the region and the state; meets with corporate executives to promote industry development and job opportunities for Gresham citizens; meets with citizens and responds to letters on matters of council policy; works with council president and city manager to develop council budget; and works with the city attorney to protect the legal interests of the city.
City councilors prepare for and meet as the governing body of the city in regular and special meetings; meet with committees and commissions of the city as council liaisons or city representatives; meet with citizens and community and regional leaders; work with each other, the mayor, city manager, city attorney and city staff to protect the interests of Gresham citizens; and participate in policy development and planning meetings. In addition to regular councilor duties, the Council President presides at council meetings in the mayor's absence and acts as mayor in those instances when the mayor is unable to perform the functions of his/her office.
If approved by voters, the measure would take effect July 1, 2005. The delayed effective date will allow the financial impacts of the measure to be addressed as part of the fiscal year 2005-2006 budget deliberations.
Submitted by:
Debbie Jermann,
Gresham City Clerk
No arguments FOR or AGAINST this measure were filed