Garden Grove : Council to Consider Pay of Commissioners

The City Council next week will consider increasing the stipends paid to the city’s 61 commissioners and giving them fringe benefits, a city spokesman said.

The item, continued from Monday’s council meeting to next Monday, was proposed by Councilman Raymond Littrell so that the commissioners’ pay would match the rise in the cost of living over the years, according to Mike Fenderson, assistant city manager.

Littrell noted that when the salary for planning commissioners, for example, was set in 1971, the price of gasoline was much lower than its cost in 1986. Littrell did not propose a specific salary increase.

At Monday’s meeting, the council also discussed providing such benefits as dental insurance for the commissioners. Part-time city employees, those who work under 40 hours per week, are not given benefits, Fenderson said. City staff is preparing a report on the issue that will be presented Monday.

The city provides stipends to cover expenses associated with serving on the various commissions, he said. Planning commissioners receive the largest stipend at $50 per month. The traffic commissioners are allotted $30 per month, while the members of the remaining five commissions are paid $10 per month.

The commissions have seven members, except the Board of Appeals which has five, Fenderson said. The Planning Commission convenes twice a month for long sessions while the other commissions meet about once a month for about 90 minutes each time, he said.

City Council members receive $486 per month, while the mayor is paid $600 per month, and all are entitled to full benefits given to city employees, Fenderson said.