Section 36516 Of Part 1. General From California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 4. >> Part 1.
36516
. (a) (1) A city council may enact an ordinance providing that
each member of the city council shall receive a salary based on the
population of the city as set forth in paragraph (2).
(2) The salaries approved by ordinance under paragraph (1) shall
be as follows:
(A) In cities up to and including 35,000 in population, up to and
including three hundred dollars ($300) per month.
(B) In cities over 35,000 up to and including 50,000 in
population, up to and including four hundred dollars ($400) per
month.
(C) In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in
population, up to and including five hundred dollars ($500) per
month.
(D) In cities over 75,000 up to and including 150,000 in
population, up to and including six hundred dollars ($600) per month.
(E) In cities over 150,000 up to and including 250,000 in
population, up to and including eight hundred dollars ($800) per
month.
(F) In cities over 250,000 population, up to and including one
thousand dollars ($1,000) per month.
(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, the population of a city
shall be determined by the last preceding federal census, or a
subsequent census, or estimate validated by the Department of
Finance.
(4) The salary of council members may be increased beyond the
amount provided in this subdivision by an ordinance or by an
amendment to an ordinance, but the amount of the increase shall not
exceed an amount equal to 5 percent for each calendar year from the
operative date of the last adjustment of the salary in effect when
the ordinance or amendment is enacted. No ordinance shall be enacted
or amended to provide automatic future increases in salary.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), at any municipal election,
the question of whether city council members shall receive a salary
for services, and the amount of that salary, may be submitted to the
electors. If a majority of the electors voting at the election favor
it, all of the council members shall receive the salary specified in
the election call. The salary of council members may be increased
beyond the amount provided in this section or decreased below the
amount in the same manner.
(c) Unless specifically authorized by another statute, a city
council may not enact an ordinance providing for compensation to city
council members in excess of that authorized by the procedures
described in subdivisions (a) and (b). For the purposes of this
section, compensation includes payment for service by a city council
member on a commission, committee, board, authority, or similar body
on which the city council member serves. If the other statute that
authorizes the compensation does not specify the amount of
compensation, the maximum amount shall be one hundred fifty dollars
($150) per month for each commission, committee, board, authority, or
similar body.
(d) Any amounts paid by a city for retirement, health and welfare,
and federal social security benefits shall not be included for
purposes of determining salary under this section, provided that the
same benefits are available and paid by the city for its employees.
(e) Any amounts paid by a city to reimburse a council member for
actual and necessary expenses pursuant to Section 36514.5 shall not
be included for purposes of determining salary pursuant to this
section.
(f) A city council member may waive any or all of the compensation
permitted by this section.