Will pay bump entice more council candidates?
Nov. 8—The Lodi City Council gave itself a pay increase for the first time in more than 16 years Wednesday night, citing compliance with a state law that took effect Jan. 1.
Last year, the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 329, which increased compensation for council members across the state, according to population.
Under the bill, staff said, council members could be paid $950 a month in cities with populations of 35,000 or fewer residents, while council members in cities with populations of more than 250,000 would be paid $3,200 a month.
Council members in cities with populations between 50,000 and 75,000 would be compensated $1,600, staff said.
Lodi's population, as of the last U.S. Census in 2020, was 66,348.
Council members are currently compensated $860 a month, along with benefits, and have not received a stipend increase since 2008.
Resident Alex Aliferis, who is running for the council's District 4 seat currently held by Ramon Yepez this year, advised against the raise.
"This is not going to sit well with the majority of residents," he said. "At a time when there's rising costs with inflation ... This is a part-time position. It's not meant to be full-time. And if you're going to run (for council), you're going to run because you care. Not because of salary."
Other residents disagreed with Aliferis. Robbie Van Arsdale said given that council members are essentially employed by Lodi residents, the residents should make sure employees are paid well so they aren't influenced by outside parties.
"Mr. Aliferis has some fair points," he said. "But I don't want anyone with more money than me to come along and smooth-talk you into doing things I don't want you to do."
John Slaughterback said giving councilmembers a raise might entice more people to run for a seat on the dais in the future.
"We've got people on the council up for re-election that have no competition," he said. "It's not good for residents to not have somebody chosen from a vote. I think it would be good to give the council a raise, because maybe it might get more people interested in the council."
Councilman Mikey Hothi was the candidate this year who ran unopposed for the his District 5 seat.
The council considered declaring him the victor in August, but Hothi opted to keep his name on the ballot so residents could still vote for a candidate.
"I was the deciding vote to kill this item in 2021," he said. "It's pretty uncomfortable to vote for your own salary increase. In this case, the state's set a clear criteria. It takes uncomfortability away, you can just tie it to the state criteria, so for that reason, I support this."
Senate Bill 329 was authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, who argued that lower stipends made it harder for councilmembers to balance their careers and commitments to serving the community.
He added stipend increases would make it easier for members of marginalized communities to serve.
The $1,600 a month increase for each councilmember amounts to $47,299 annually. And because the increase is effective immediately, the city will spend $29,290 for the remainder of the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ends June 30.
"Do I think getting more qualified individuals through a slightly higher compensation is a bad thing? Not at all," Vice Mayor Cameron Bregman said. "I look at having a well-rounded council. I believe the reason younger people aren't predominantly going for Lodi City Council is the fact that it's financially not feasible."
Yepez was absent from Wednesday's meeting.
