May 8, 2008

City Council to hold salary setting commission community meetings

The San Jose Council Salary Setting Commission will conduct community meetings to gather input from residents regarding changes to the way it sets salaries for the mayor and city council every two years. Currently, the Council Salary Setting Commission, appointed by the Civil Service Commission, meets in odd-numbered years to establish compensation for the city’s elected officials. The commission recommends possible compensation changes that the city council must vote on, either to accept or reject the proposals.

In May 2007 the commission recommended that the city council consider ways to change the current system. The city council’s Rules and Open Government Committee recently requested that the commission gather public input to determine if there is a better way to establish the salaries for the city’s elected officials. The city council is reviewing a number of potential charter changes or other measures that could be placed on the November 2008 ballot. Community meetings to gather public input have been scheduled: for Monday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock Branch Library 3090 Alum Rock Ave. at White Road; Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Edenvale Branch Library 101 Branham Lane East at Monterey Highway; and Monday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cambrian Branch Library 1780 Hillsdale Ave. near Ross Avenue.

Following the meetings, the commission will issue a report to the city council regarding the information gathered. The commission’s report may recommend whether or not to pursue a possible charter change and what changes, if any, should be proposed to San Jose voters.

For further information, please contact the Dennis Hawkins, interim assistant city clerk, at (408) 535-1275 or dennis.hawkins@sanjoseca.gov.