City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 3, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution Establishing an Ad Hoc City Council Compensation Study Committee [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Should City Council establish an ad hoc committee to study compensation for the Mayor and Council Members for the next term of Council?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Adopt the attached resolution establishing an Ad Hoc City Council Compensation Study Committee; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to appoint the five members of the Ad Hoc Study Committee.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Code grants cities authority to compensate members of a city council. The statue states that "each member of the council of each city shall be allowed and paid out of the city levy an annual salary. . . to be fixed herein provided, for his services in attending the meetings of council and in discharging his duties imposed by law upon him." While the Virginia Code also places limitations on compensation, cities that do not place limitations on compensation in their charters "may continue to pay its councilmen and mayor pursuant to such charter." The City Charter of the City of Alexandria does not impose specific limitations on compensation for council members and mayor, stating only that "members of the council and the mayor shall receive in full compensation for their services the rate of compensation set by ordinance..."
Both the City Charter and City Code state that an increase in compensation cannot become effective during the term of the council and mayor in which the vote was cast. Therefore, a sitting council may not increase its compensation, but can increase it for the next three-year term of council and the mayor. Any increase would need to be adopted by July 6, 2018 to be ef...
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