Council salary cuts and low-cost housing
Noteworthy items this week:
First, a suggestion City Council members take a 10 percent salary reduction could trim $280 from municipal expenses each month, totaling up to $3,360 per year.
Council members earn $500 per month plus $30 per meeting for Redevelopment Agency sessions, which are held concurrently with the twice-monthly council meetings. But they also receive about two times their salaries in benefits.
The benefits can include health and retirement contributions, auto and phone allowances and workers’ compensation premiums, which amounted to $68,420 for all five members during the most recent full fiscal year.
Actual salary and benefit payments: $21,556 for Jim Winder, $20,283 for Jan Horton and $19,831 for John Anderson with past members Hank Wedaa and Allen Castellano totaling $19,981 and $19,949.
During the same period, former City Manager Tamara Letourneau totaled $452,430, with severance, and now-retired Assistant City Manager David Gruchow $218,949.
Second, a state-required draft housing element showing sites available for potential rezoning to multi-family residential at 10, 20 and 30 units per acre is likely to draw considerable comment at the April 21 council meeting.
Six identified sites, listed in last week’s column, could put 742 units on 24.77 acres at 30 units per acre, 17 more than 725 “lower income” units needed to meet numbers allocated to the city under a state Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
Seven “moderate income” housing sites: 282 units on 14.19 acres at 20 units per acre and 118 units on 11.35 acres at 10 units per acre, providing 60 more than 340 needed under RHNA figures, allowing the city some “wiggle” room.
Using 2008 figures for a four-person household, “very low income” is defined as up to $46,500 per year, “low income” up to $74,400 and “moderate income” up to $100,900.
Third, a complaint by Councilwoman Nancy Rikel about Sheriff’s Capt. David Wilson was “thoroughly investigated” and Wilson “exonerated” after “a complete review of all relevant facts and evidence,” according to a letter Capt. Dave Nighswonger sent Rikel.
Nighswonger noted, “By law, the Sheriff’s Department is prohibited from disclosing any facts or details of its investigation beyond notifying you of the disposition of the case and providing you with a copy of your own statements made as part of the complaint.”
Rikel alleged “conduct unbecoming an officer” after an incident in the East Lake Village Von’s parking lot when Rikel was campaigning for council Nov. 1, as related in my Dec. 11 column. Wilson is the husband of former one-term Councilwoman Keri Wilson.
First, a suggestion City Council members take a 10 percent salary reduction could trim $280 from municipal expenses each month, totaling up to $3,360 per year.
Council members earn $500 per month plus $30 per meeting for Redevelopment Agency sessions, which are held concurrently with the twice-monthly council meetings. But they also receive about two times their salaries in benefits.
The benefits can include health and retirement contributions, auto and phone allowances and workers’ compensation premiums, which amounted to $68,420 for all five members during the most recent full fiscal year.
Actual salary and benefit payments: $21,556 for Jim Winder, $20,283 for Jan Horton and $19,831 for John Anderson with past members Hank Wedaa and Allen Castellano totaling $19,981 and $19,949.
During the same period, former City Manager Tamara Letourneau totaled $452,430, with severance, and now-retired Assistant City Manager David Gruchow $218,949.
Second, a state-required draft housing element showing sites available for potential rezoning to multi-family residential at 10, 20 and 30 units per acre is likely to draw considerable comment at the April 21 council meeting.
Six identified sites, listed in last week’s column, could put 742 units on 24.77 acres at 30 units per acre, 17 more than 725 “lower income” units needed to meet numbers allocated to the city under a state Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
Seven “moderate income” housing sites: 282 units on 14.19 acres at 20 units per acre and 118 units on 11.35 acres at 10 units per acre, providing 60 more than 340 needed under RHNA figures, allowing the city some “wiggle” room.
Using 2008 figures for a four-person household, “very low income” is defined as up to $46,500 per year, “low income” up to $74,400 and “moderate income” up to $100,900.
Third, a complaint by Councilwoman Nancy Rikel about Sheriff’s Capt. David Wilson was “thoroughly investigated” and Wilson “exonerated” after “a complete review of all relevant facts and evidence,” according to a letter Capt. Dave Nighswonger sent Rikel.
Nighswonger noted, “By law, the Sheriff’s Department is prohibited from disclosing any facts or details of its investigation beyond notifying you of the disposition of the case and providing you with a copy of your own statements made as part of the complaint.”
Rikel alleged “conduct unbecoming an officer” after an incident in the East Lake Village Von’s parking lot when Rikel was campaigning for council Nov. 1, as related in my Dec. 11 column. Wilson is the husband of former one-term Councilwoman Keri Wilson.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
<< Home