Saturday, July 16, 2011

San Ramon dismisses (Contra Costa) grand jury report

By Sophia Kazmi
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 07/15/2011 03:57:49 PM PDT
Updated: 07/15/2011 05:52:50 PM PDT

SAN RAMON -- Despite grand jury recommendations to consider reducing its City Council salaries or benefits, San Ramon has no plans to make changes.

The city stated as much in a letter, approved Tuesday, responding to Contra Costa Civil grand jury findings.

The grand jury, found that San Ramon, with a population of about 72,000, compensated its entire council $163,190, which is well above the county average of $77,895.

Only Richmond, with a population of about 100,000 and seven council members, compensated elected officials more, with $267,139.

The other cities that are above the average are Antioch ($112,591), Brentwood ($91,998), Concord ($128,262), Hercules ($93,691), Martinez ($131,326) and San Pablo ($100,961)

The grand jury recommended San Ramon should look at considering reducing council salaries. The city paid its council members $47,935 in salaries and meeting fees for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which is above the $39,377 average.

The city response is that the jury's suggestion is unreasonable.

"Suggesting that agencies reduce salaries to the average of the County not only ignores the differences in agency size and operations, but ignores that statistical reality that unless all agency salaries are identical, there will always be agencies above and below the average," the council's letter said.

Other jury recommendations were for San Ramon to consider an annual public review of elected official
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compensation, which the city said is unnecessary because a publicly approved ordinance guides council compensation.

The grand jury also recommended the city look at whether paying health care insurance and pensions for council members is appropriate.

The city responded that the suggestions were unwarranted because it implies paying benefits is inappropriate and the city says there is no law or historical precedent to suggest that is the case.

The letter was approved at the San Ramon Council meeting Tuesday night, where council members defended their compensation. Vice Mayor Scott Perkins said he estimates he works about a 1,000 hours a year doing city work.

Mayor Abram Wilson said that the city has a AAA credit bond rating, a healthy budget reserve fund and a high quality of life. Residents are shocked to learn how little he makes, he said.

"It's a full-time job, if it's done correctly," he said.

Contact Sophia Kazmi at 925-847-2122. Follow her at Twitter.com/sophiakazmi.

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