Turlock City Council will decide Tuesday whether to appoint a task force to review current compensation for the Mayor, Treasurer, and Council.

The City Council presented an item at the May 13 meeting to address compensation. Following that discussion, it was decided that each councilmember would recommend one individual to be appointed to a task force specifically to look at compensation.

This task force would be asked to review the current compensation of the Mayor, Treasurer, and Council and give a report on recommended changes to the Mayor and Council.

Currently, the Mayor and City Council members are elected to serve four terms of office, with a monthly stipend of $500 as is authorized under State Law for the “time the contribute serving their community and fulfilling their constitutional duties.”

Under the basis for recommendation for the action of electing a compensation task force, the City documents that while the Council is considered a part-time job, there are times when elected members are putting aside more than part time hours. The report explains that councilmembers are often responsible for representing the City at events and meetings held by other governmental agencies; for example to attend a Parks and Recreation event like the observance of Arbor Day.

“Frequently these [meetings] are held during the regular work week and require Council members to take leave from their private affairs and/or their full-time employment,” the report reads.

It goes on to explain that “after a thorough review of the compensation information for many cities across the State of California” the compensation for serving on Council should be fair and adequate in relation to the amount of hours and effort put in and that the pay should be appropriately competitive for the local area so as not to deter qualified citizens from running for office.

“It is important that the compensation structure for the Mayor and Council provides some reasonable amount of benefit so that [it] encourages quality candidates to serve and not just those who have the ability to take off from their jobs or employment pursuits for large chunks of time such as wealthy individuals and retirees.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Turlock City Council is also expected to:

• Acknowledge the retirement of two City employees: Matthew Seilheimer, Fire Captain and Jeri Gilley, Finance Customer Service.
• Request to approve an agreement between the City of Turlock and Turlock Gospel Mission in order to use volunteers to help provide routine maintenance in City parks and facilities.
• Seek a grant agreement with the State Department of Water Resources for the 2014 Integrate Regional Water Management Drought Grant pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006.
• Request to accept the 2014-2015 Legislative Platform for the City of Turlock as presenting and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to participate in the League of Cities advocacy efforts on behalf of the City of Turlock.
• Recognize the 75th anniversary of Foster Farms with Roy Foster.