1968 339- 485 _ 1-8 to 4-15-1968

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371 member to contact a Department Head requesting information that would take several days of staff time for reporting, and felt his office should be advised of such requests in order Staff time not be interrupted to this extent unless approved by his office as being necessary. Motion carried on roll call vote, Councilman Granger voting no. (MINUTE ORDER #68-27F) Item VTI. Amendment to Section 9 permitting compensation increase for Councilmen. Councilman Bury advised this recommendation by Committee had been least contro- versial as a similar proposal had been approved two years ago, but because of a technical error in timing, had not made the ballot. It was now proposed that $75.00 compensation now stated in Charter as Council's compensation be deleted and that the General Law City Council compensation schedule as adopted by the State Legislature be substituted. The dollar amount would not appear on the ballot, but would be set by ordinance if the voters approved adoption of the General Law schedule. He recited schedule of compensation now allowable by population computation. Under 5,000 5,000 - 35,000 35,000 - 50,000 50,000 - 75,000 over 75,000 He advised that this recommendation had not been unanimous by the Committee, but was the majority opinion that compensation to Council membersshould be in- creased with dollar amount to be set by ordinance after voter approval. He also stated there had been some discussion that Council might elect to set a specific salary by resolution before the election in order to indicate to voters what would be expected if amendment is approved, but it was never intention of Committee at any time that this proposal not be presented to voters. Councilman Henderson suggested that it would be best to accept General Law Schedule, but also Charter be amended to state that no additional compensation or reimbursement for expenses would be paid whatsoever to Councilmen, thereby also eliminating accounting of expenses. Councilman Bury explained this consider- ation had been discussed by Committee and explained reasons it had not been recom- mended. Mr. Swensen also reviewed considerations given by Com- mittee concerning this section and why it was not recom- mended that any dollar amount be attached to the Charter in any place where it could be avoided because of price structure changes, reciting statistics he had prepared, which indicated changing times made figures obsolete and unrealistic when unchanged over a long period of time. After further discussion on the issue of compensation to Council members for April ballot, Councilman Rosselli moved to accept Committee recommendation on Item VII as stated, seconded by Councilman Petersen. Further discussion held concerning how proposal would be placed before voters on the ballot. Councilman Bury moved to amend Item VII of the Committee report to include the requirement that before the election, the Council, by Resolution, establish the AN 22 -69 per month 150 per month ,*71 200 per month 250 per month 300 per month He advised that this recommendation had not been unanimous by the Committee, but was the majority opinion that compensation to Council membersshould be in- creased with dollar amount to be set by ordinance after voter approval. He also stated there had been some discussion that Council might elect to set a specific salary by resolution before the election in order to indicate to voters what would be expected if amendment is approved, but it was never intention of Committee at any time that this proposal not be presented to voters. Councilman Henderson suggested that it would be best to accept General Law Schedule, but also Charter be amended to state that no additional compensation or reimbursement for expenses would be paid whatsoever to Councilmen, thereby also eliminating accounting of expenses. Councilman Bury explained this consider- ation had been discussed by Committee and explained reasons it had not been recom- mended. Mr. Swensen also reviewed considerations given by Com- mittee concerning this section and why it was not recom- mended that any dollar amount be attached to the Charter in any place where it could be avoided because of price structure changes, reciting statistics he had prepared, which indicated changing times made figures obsolete and unrealistic when unchanged over a long period of time. After further discussion on the issue of compensation to Council members for April ballot, Councilman Rosselli moved to accept Committee recommendation on Item VII as stated, seconded by Councilman Petersen. Further discussion held concerning how proposal would be placed before voters on the ballot. Councilman Bury moved to amend Item VII of the Committee report to include the requirement that before the election, the Council, by Resolution, establish the AN 22 -69