CITY OF HOMER 

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                            Stark

                                              ORDINANCE  05-34                                        

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL AMENDING HOMER CITY CODE SECTION 1.24.040, BY-LAWS FOR COUNCIL PROCEDURE, (M) SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO RAISE THE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE AND TO PROHIBIT MEMBERSHIP IN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

          

     WHEREAS, With the passage of time the existing expense allowance for Council Members and the Mayor of $50 per month is no longer appropriate, particularly for the Mayor, who represents the City at numerous events both in the City and around the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, The  City Attorney has stated that a raise in the expense allowance can only be effective for newly elected officials to avoid a conflict of interest where Council Members  raise their own salaries, and

 

     WHEREAS,  The present budget contains money to fund an increase for Council Members elected in October 2005, and

 

     WHEREAS, At the present time the City is offering newly elected officials membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) despite the Code’s express prohibition of such compensation unless authorized by ordinance, and

 

     WHEREAS,  The City at this time has an indebtedness to PERS in excess of $6 million, and

 

     WHEREAS, Under PERS rules a Council Member would receive a pension of $125 for the rest of his/her life after being in office five years, far exceeding the expense allowance authorized by ordinance.

 

     NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED  by the City of Homer:

 

     Section 1.  HCC Section 1.24.024 m. Salaries of Elected Officials is hereby revised to read

 

The Council may fix by ordinance the salaries of elected officials.  [The] Homer City Council  members

shall receive an expense allowance of  [$50] $75 per month, the Mayor $100 per month, effective upon their election/reelection.  Newly elected/reelected Members/Mayor shall not have membership paid by the City in the Public Employees Retirement System.   An elected official may not receive any other compensation for service to the Municipality unless specifically authorized to do so by ordinance.  Per diem payments or reimbursements for expenses are not compensation under this section.

 

     Section 2.  This Ordinance is permanent and shall become part of the Code.

 

PASSED AND ENACTED by the Homer City Council this _______ day of ________, 2005.

 

CITY OF HOMER

 

 

 

JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST

 

MARY L. CALHOUN. CMC, CITY CLERK

 

Introduction:

Public Hearing:

Second Reading:

Effective Date:

 

Ayes:

Noes:

Abstain:

Absent:

 

Reviewed and approved as to form and content:

 

Walt Wrede, City Manager                                        Gordon Tans, City Attorney

 

 

Date:                                                                  Date:

 

 

Fiscal Note: $150 budgeted