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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER II, SECTION 5, OF THE CITY CHARTER TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO SET THE FEE PAID TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SERVING AS MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
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CITY PROPOSAL/BY COUNCILOR GARDNER:
Section 1. That Chapter II, Section 5, of the 1912 Home Rule Charter of the city of Duluth, as amended, is hereby amended, to read as follows:
Section 5. The salary of the mayor shall be set by the council.
The council shall provide in the annual operating budget a contingent fund of five thousand dollars ($5,000) unless and until increased by the council. This fund may be expended by the mayor for such public purposes as the mayor may deem proper.
The appointed chief administrative officer shall be paid a salary set by the mayor with the approval of the council.
The council shall not decrease the salary of any mayor or incumbent chief administrative officer, except prior to the general municipal election, and to take effect at the beginning of the next term of office for mayor.
The councilors shall be paid a fee of eight hundred thirty-three dollars ($833) per month for service as a member of the council. The Charter commission shall determine a suitable fee for service and recommend said fee to the council. The council must approve the recommended fee by at least a two-thirds vote. The new fee amount may not take effect until the month of January after the next municipal election. Service as a member of the council, to be eligible for this fee, shall require that the councilor shall be present and in attendance for at least one full formal meeting of the council during the month for which this fee is paid.
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect 90 days after its passage and publication.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This ordinance amends Section 5 of the City Charter to allow the charter commission to set the fee paid to council members. The council must approve the fee by a two-thirds vote. The new fee amount will take effect the month of January after the next succeeding municipal election.
The proposed Charter change was reviewed and recommended by the Charter commission at its meeting of July 8, 2015.
This ordinance requires a unanimous vote for approval.