PASADENA : Directors’ First Pay Hike in 22 Years on Ballot

Members of the Board of Directors haven’t had a raise in 22 years, and they’re asking voters to make up for lost time.

Passage of Proposition L, one of two local measures on the ballot in Tuesday’s election, would not only raise directors’ monthly compensation by more than $600, but also tie future increases to the local inflation rate.

“There’s no question in my mind that the requirements of serving on the board are substantial,” said Bill Bogaard, a supporter of the measure and a former board member. “The directors I talked with all devote 20 to 30 hours a week to their city duties.”

Directors now earn $50 for each weekly board meeting they attend, up to $250 a month. They receive an additional $50 each for Community Development Commission meetings, which are usually held on the same days as board meetings.

The measure calls for a new monthly compensation of $935. With the money they receive for attending Community Development Commission meetings, directors could earn $1,185 a month for their part-time positions.

Another local ballot measure, Proposition K, asks voters to make some minor changes in the Growth Management Initiative, a measure approved last year to impose restraints on development in the city. There is no formal opposition to Proposition K in the city’s sample ballot.

The issue of compensation for directors has sparked little interest among voters, but local members of the Libertarian Party argue that the new salary levels would be too high, far higher than those of council members in any other San Gabriel Valley city. An annual cost-of-living increase tied to the Los Angeles-Long Beach Consumer Price Index is unheard of, they add.

“What if there’s a lot of inflation?” said Ted Brown, the Libertarian candidate for state insurance commissioner. “It could happen. Their salaries would start ballooning, while the average Pasadenan would have no such luxury.”

Kenneth J. Saurenman, another Libertarian who is running for the state Senate in the 16th District, accused the board of “double-dipping” by adding commission fees to board compensation.

The board arrived at the $935 figure by applying the rate of inflation over the last 22 years to the $250 board members receive, City Atty. Victor Kaleta said.

“It seems like a reasonable balance between where we are today and the viewpoint that board members should be paid a living wage,” Bogaard said.

“It’s not excessive in any way, shape or form,” Mayor Jess Hughston said. “The amount of money is negligible in my view in helping a council person to meet expenses.”

Compensation for council members varies widely from city to city. In Alhambra, council members get $50 a month plus up to $60 a month for participating in community redevelopment meetings. In Pomona, council members get $200 a month (the mayor gets $400) plus $30 for each redevelopment meeting.

Glendale City Council members receive $800 a month plus a $360 car allowance. They get no extra compensation for participating in the city’s redevelopment agency.

In addition to their monthly salaries, Pasadena directors receive up to $120 a month in expenses. The city budget also includes $40,866 for travel expenses for directors to attend out-of-town conferences.

Proposition K modifies the language of the so-called PRIDE initiative--named for its sponsor, Pasadena Residents in Defense of our Environment--which voters approved in March, 1989. For example, it permits a broader exemption from growth restraints for “non-residential” development in northwest Pasadena than for “commercial” development.

The measure has the support of many groups, including the Board of Directors and PRIDE.

Times staff writer Vicki Torres contributed to this report.