TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2023 Salary Resolution RES-22-0159 to increase the maximum annual compensation permitted for the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors representative to $200 per meeting attended limited to no more than four meetings per month, inclusive of subcommittee meetings, not to exceed $7,000 maximum per calendar year. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach is required to place a director on the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Unlike other City committees and boards, the Commissioner representing the City on the MWD board and subcommittees devotes about 20 hours per week (almost every week of the year) to MWD-related business, including, but not limited to, board meetings and subcommittee meetings. Salary Resolution 22-0159 caps compensation for the MWD representative at $1,000 per year.
Due to extensive workload for the Long Beach MWD representative, staff recommends that the maximum annual compensation for said representative’s work on the MWD Board be set equal to the maximum annual compensation for meetings of the City’s Utilities Commission at $200 per meeting attended, not to exceed $7,000 maximum per calendar year. Staff also recommends that MWD Board subcommittee meetings, which are more numerous, more time-consuming and just as important as MWD Board meetings, be added to the list of compensable meetings, to recognize the unique nature of the MWD which performs most of the major work within the subcommittees rather than the full 38 member board, unlike other City committees and boards. Compensation for the MWD representative is limited to four meetings per month, inclusive of Board meetings, subcommittee meetings, or a combination of both.
This matter was reviewed by Financial Management Director Kevin Riper on March 22, 2023, by Deputy City Attorney Taylor Anderson on March 22, 2023, and by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on March 9, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to amend the salary resolution on April 4, 2023 is recommended in order to resolve promptly the compensation oddity described above.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of increasing the maximum compensation - from $1,000 currently, to $7,000 as recommended - for the Utilities Commission representative to the Metropolitan Water District will not exceed $6,000 annually (plus required payroll contributions for social security, Medicare and CalPERS). The cost will be funded from the Utilities Department budget in the Water Utility Fund Group. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
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Respectfully Submitted,
KEVIN RIPER
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER