Council reduces their redevelopment pay, increases regular pay

The City Council unanimously voted to reduce their redevelopment pay Tuesday night in order to comply with a state formula based on population size.

When the city had a population of more than 200,000, the state allowed members to collect more than a state imposed $120 per month limit for redevelopment agency meetings. Council members have been paid $1,400 a month for their redevelopment work since 2002.

But according to the latest Census figures, Glendale’s population is approximately 192,000, triggering the state limit.

“It’s a significant pay cut for those of us up here on the dais,” said Councilman Ara Najarian.

But the move was followed by another unanimous vote to increase City Council compensation in other ways to slightly offset the loss in redevelopment income. Council member voted to bump up their regular pay from $1,100 per month to $1,320 per month.

The pay adjustments would still mean that the overall council salary would drop from $41,100 per year — including pension, car allowances and agency stipends — to $28,380. But the city would also cover all of the council’s medical benefits, which comes to an extra city outlay of about $250 or $350 per month per member, depending on healthcare dependents.

The redevelopment deductions take effect immediately, but the increases elsewhere won’t come into play until April 2013, the next new term.

--Brittany Levine