HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Update.202010051
AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
October 5, 2020
4:00 PM,
I.INFORMATION UPDATE
I.A.Comparison of City Council Salaries
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sara Ott, City Manager
Ron LeBlanc, Special Projects Manager
Copy: Jim True, City Attorney
Alissa Farrell, Administrative Services Director
MEMO DATE: October 1, 2020
RE: Comparison of City Council Compensation
BACKGROUND: The City Council discussed the topic of Mayor and Council compensation during a
Work Session on March 9, 2020. The agenda packet contained a memo prepared by City Attorney
Jim True, with the assistance of Alissa Farrell who prepared a table of data to illustrate comparisons
of various cities. For the convenience of those who may be reading this memo, the agenda memo
dated March 5 is attached. The summary of the legal basis for the current City Council
compensation has not changed since the previous discussion. The focus of this memo is to provide
expanded and updated comparison data with other cities.
RECOMMENDATION: There is no staff recommendation. This is being provided as information only.
DISCUSSION: As mentioned, the focus of this memo is to provide expanded and updated comparison data
with other cities. This information was compiled using information obtained from the Colorado Municipal
League (CML), Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), and individual contacts with additional cities. TABLE
1 – COMPARISON OF SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS displays data from 28 cities and towns throughout
the Rocky Mountain West. While these communities are similar to Aspen in many respects, each community
has a distinctive character that makes it unique.
The majority of these peer cities are from Colorado. Colorado has a strong Home Rule tradition that
is rooted in the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The majority of these peer Colorado
communities operate with a Home Rule Charter that was adopted by a vote of the people and
follow the Council-Manager form of government. Five of these peer cities in Colorado are statutory
towns (Basalt, Eagle, Estes Park, Fraser, and Grand Lake) taking their powers and authorities from
state statutes.
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The powers granted to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager are very similar for each of the
peer cities in Colorado. The Council or Town Board is the legislative body. In most situations, the
Mayor is a voting member of the governing body. Their role is to set policy including the approval of
the annual budget. The governing body is responsible for appointing the city manager, city attorney
and municipal judge.
It might be instructive to provide additional details regarding roles and responsibilities. The Aspen
City Charter specifies that the Mayor is “recognized as the head of government for all ceremonial
and legal purposes and he or she shall execute and authenticate legal instruments requiring his or
her signature as such official.” This is typical language found in most Home Rule Charters that are
based on the National Civic League’s Model City Charter. Only three mayors in Colorado possess
true executive authority (such as developing the annual budget and hiring/ firing staff) can be found
in Denver (technically a city/county consolidation), Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The vast majority
of municipalities in Colorado view the Office of Mayor as a part time position.
The powers and duties of City Managers in Colorado represent a traditional executive function,
designed to “execute” the policies of the governing body. The Aspen City Charter enumerates the
powers and duties of the City Manager in Section 6.3. The City Manager is responsible for all
personnel functions, developing an annual budget, reporting financial condition on a routine basis,
supervising and directing the various departments and managing the day to day affairs of the City.
A notable exception to this is the Town of Avon which was initially created with a Council-Mayor
form of government and provides for a Council-Manager form when the Council determines such
form is appropriate.
Five peer cities used in this comparison are located outside Colorado. These are Jackson WY,
Ketchum ID, Moab UT, Park City UT, and Sun Valley ID. All of these communities more closely
resemble statutory communities in Colorado rather than Home Rule municipalities. Ketchum,
Moab, Park City and Sun Valley are statutory municipalities established under state statutes.
Jackson operates under a Charter Ordinance that was adopted by the City Council. In Ketchum,
Moab, Park City, and Sun Valley, the Mayor serves as the Chief Executive.
The form of government may be a contributing factor to explain why the salaries of these five out of
state communities are the highest of the peer cities. Park City has the highest salaries for elected
officials. It pays its Mayor $3,706 per month and City Council members are paid $1,914 per month.
Jackson is the second highest: Mayor ($3,275); Council ($2,729). This is followed by Ketchum with
salaries for Mayor ($3,122) and Council ($1,734). The City of Aspen comes in at number four on the
list as it pays the Mayor $2,325 per month and members of the City Council receive $1,700 per
month. Snowmass Village is number five on the list at $2,200 per month for Mayor with City Council
getting paid $1,700 per month. The City of Sun Valley is next paying their Mayor $1,700/month and
City Council $1,000/month. Most Colorado communities pay less than $1,500 per month for Mayor
and $1,042 per month for City Council.
Colorado has 271 incorporated cities and towns. Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Pueblo
compensate their Mayors more than Aspen. Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo follow the
Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayors in these cities receive: Denver- $14,266/month,
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Colorado Springs - $8,614/month, Aurora - $6,867/month, and Pueblo - $12,500/month. It appears
that the City of Aspen currently compensates the Mayor $2,325/month (fourth highest in the state)
while the majority of Colorado cities compensate the Mayor less than $1,500/month.
A sitting Council cannot vote to increase their compensation until an election has taken place for
their seat on the governing body. The comparison data reflects the most recently approved salary
for Mayor and Council in that municipality. While some sitting elected officials who have not run for
re-election under the new ordinance may be compensated at the old rate, all newly elected
members of the governing body will be compensated at the new rate after the next election.
Benefits are also part of the total compensation for members of the City Council. This becomes very
complicated to identify and quantify. Benefits for members of the governing body differ greatly
from city to city. Of the 28 peer cities, only ten were confirmed to offer health, life, dental, and
vision insurance (Aspen, Avon, Durango, Estes Park, Jackson, Park City, Snowmass Village,
Steamboat Springs, Sun Valley and Telluride). These costs are budgeted annually, however, not
every member of the governing body who is eligible opts to take the city’s insurance. The out of
state peer cities frequently also contribute to the state pension system on behalf of the elected
official. Typically, the vesting period for a state retirement system is five years, most terms of office
are only four years. Those municipalities that offer health insurance and paid retirement will also
have the highest total compensation numbers. Most of the peer cities in Colorado offer a wide
range of low cost/no cost benefits such as wellness passes to recreation centers, free car washes at
the city owned facility, and cell phone stipends.
SUMMARY:
This information represents the most current data available. The COVID economy has forced some
cities to reduce salaries, including those of elected officials. However, those reductions are
considered to be temporary, so the maximum authorized salaries are reflected in these data.
TABLE 1 – COMPARISON OF SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
City/Town Population Mayor Council
Month Month
Avon 6,442 $1,500 $750
Aspen 7,287 $2,325 $1,700
Basalt 4,658 $1,562 $1,042
Breckenridge 5,038 $1,500 $1,000
Carbondale 6,997 $1,500 $900
Crested Butte 1,771 $900 $500
Dillon 983 $900 $400
Durango 19,097 $1,117 $876
Eagle 7,085 $800 $500
Estes Park 6,310 $917 $667
Fraser 1,348 $140/mtg $100/mtg
Frisco 3,281 $950 $500
Glenwood Springs 9,972 $1,200 $1,000
Grand Lake 516 $0 0
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Gunnison 6,914 $750 $625
Jackson Wyoming 10,427 3,275 $2,729
Ketchum, Idaho 2,889 $3,122 $1,734
Moab, Utah 5,268 $1,000 $700
Mt. Crested Butte 886 $300/mtg $150/mtg
Mountain Village 1,432 $800 $400
Park City, Utah 13,382 $3,706 $1,914
Silverthorne 5,129 $750 $300
Snowmass Village 2,741 $1,700 $1,200
Steamboat Springs 13,764 $1,192 $895
Sun Valley, Idaho 1,499 $1,700 $1,000
Telluride 2,494 1,000 $800
Vail 5,408 $1,000 $625
Winter Park 1,087 $400/mtg $200/mtg
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: James R. True, City Attorney
DATE OF MEMO: March 5, 2020
MEETING DATE: March 9, 2020
RE: Mayor and Council Compensation
SUMMARY: A work session is scheduled for Monday, March 9th to consider revisions of
the current compensation of the Mayor and City Council members. Comparisons to other
municipalities will be presented for this discussion. Any change in compensation has to be
approved by ordinance. However, a new proposed ordinance is not presented at this time.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Section 3.6 of the Aspen Municipal Charter states, in
pertinent part, as follows:
The members of the council shall receive such compensation, and the mayor
such additional compensation, as the council shall prescribe by ordinance;
provided, however, that the compensation of any member during his term
of office shall not be increased or decreased. …
Based on this provision, Council raised the compensation for the Mayor and Council
pursuant to Ordinance #1 adopted in March of 2001. Ordinance #1 is attached.
Compensation has remained at that level since then. In 2008, a permanent modification
of compensation tied to commissioner salaries was considered as a Charter amendment.
However, that effort was abandoned.
The previous City Council considered adjustments to the compensation pursuant to
Ordinance #11 (Series of 2019). Ordinance #11 provided for an increase of $200 per month
for Council and Mayor. It also included an automatic increase based on CPI at the
Attachment A
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beginning of each term for Council. This allowed an increase to occur at the beginning of
a new term so that no Council member receives an increase during his or her term. The
Mayor’s adjustment was also every four years. The health insurance stipend would have
continued as previously provided. Ordinance #11 was read at the Council’s regular
meeting of April 22, 2019 but was tabled at that time. That proposed Ordinance #11 is also
attached.
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DISCUSSION:
Alissa Farrell has done additional research on compensation of elected officials throughout
the west and has provided a comparison of those compensation packages through a
spreadsheet that is attached.
The compensation of elected officials is debated throughout this country on a regular
basis. There are many varied opinions regarding amount and purpose. I will not attempt
to capsulize those opinions and that debate here.
At this point, Council has several options to consider. 1) Council could move to take
Ordinance #11 (2019) off of the table and set it for second reading. 2) Council could direct
staff to prepare a different ordinance with a different compensation package to bring to
Council for first reading at an upcoming meeting. 3) Council could maintain the status
quo.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff does not have a recommendation for action by Council.
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ORDINANCE NO. 11
(Series of 2019)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, INCREASING THE
COMPENSATION FOR THE OFFICES OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILPERSON.
WHEREAS, Section 3.6 of the Home Rule Charter for the City of Aspen provides that
members of the City Council and Mayor shall receive such compensation as the Council shall
prescribe by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the current levels of compensation for the Mayor ($2,325.00 per month) and
members of City Council ($1,700.00 per month) were established in January 2001, and have not
been adjusted since that time; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to provide a reasonable and equitable increase in the
levels of compensation provided to the Mayor and members of the City Council so as to reflect not
only the increase in the cost of living since 2001, but the increase in the commitment of time
necessarily required to fulfill the duties of such elective offices; and
WHEREAS, although the City Council wishes to address the cost of living increase since
2001 and the additional time commitment necessary to fulfill the duties, Council does not wish
to have salary, itself, as an incentive for participating in public service; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a salary that is fair compensation and
maintain that salary as it relates to increases in the cost of living without further action by Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO, THAT:
Section 1.
The monthly compensation for the office of Mayor shall be increased from $2,325.00 per
month to $2,525.00 per month; the monthly compensation for City Council members shall be 9
increased from $1,700.00 per month to $1,900.00 per month. Increases in compensation as set
forth herein shall become effective upon the first regular City Council meeting in June 2019 for
those offices elected in the last general election. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Home Rule
Charter, no current member of the City Council, including the Mayor, shall be entitled to receive
such compensation increase until their present term of office has expired, and they have been
duly elected or appointed to a new term. Thus, for Council positions set for election in March
2021, increases in compensation as set forth herein shall become effective upon the first regular
City Council meeting in April 2021.
Section 2.
The monthly compensation for City Council members shall be increased based on the
increase in the CPI-Denver (“CPI”) every four years to take effect at the commencement of a new
term for each Council position. For Council members elected in 2019, the CPI compensation
increase shall take effect in April 2023, and each April every four years thereafter. For Council
members elected in 2021, the CPI increase shall take effect in April 2023, and each April every four
years thereafter. The monthly compensation for Mayor shall be increased by the CPI every two
years commencing April 2021. The Director of Finance shall calculate and implement the CPI
increase authorized pursuant to this Section 2.
Section 3.
In addition, compensation for the office of Mayor and for City Council members shall include an
amount sufficient to allow those officeholders to participate in health insurance benefits as
follows: The Mayor and each member of Council shall be entitled to receive a stipend in addition
to their monthly compensation equal to the cost of health insurance benefits authorized for
regular full time City employees; provided, however, that the stipend is actually used to purchase
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health insurance through the City or a third party insurer and that the stipend does not exceed
the cost of health insurance premiums for a single person. The Mayor or any Council Member
using a third-party insurer shall provide evidence of the insurance obtained to the City’s Human
Resources Department. The stipend shall be determined by the Human Resources Department
and implemented at the commencement of each Mayor or Council Member’s term and shall
remain the same throughout each Mayor or Council member’s term.
Section 4.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional in a court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be
deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions thereof.
Section 5.
This ordinance shall not have any effect on existing litigation and shall not operate as an
abatement of any action or proceeding now pending under or by virtue of the ordinances
amended as herein provided, and the same shall be construed and concluded under such prior
ordinances.
A public hearing on the ordinance shall be held on the 6th day of May 2019, in the City
Council Chambers, Aspen City Hall, Aspen, Colorado.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED as provided by law by the City Council of
the City of Aspen on the 22nd day of April 2019.
Steven Skadron, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda Manning, City Clerk
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FINALLY adopted, passed and approved this 6th day of May 2019.
Steven Skadron, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda Manning, City Clerk
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ORDINANCE NO. 1
(Series of 2001)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, INCREASING THE
COMPENSATION FOR THE OFFICES OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILPERSON.
WHEREAS, Section 3.6 of the Home Rule Charter for the City of Aspen provides that
members of the City Council and Mayor shall receive such compensation as the Council shall
prescribe by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the current levels of compensation for the Mayor ($1,725.00 per month) and
members of City Council ($1,200.00 per month) were established in March, 1996, and have not
been adjusted since that time; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to provide a reasonable and equitable increase in the
levels of compensation provided to the Mayor and members of the City Council so as to reflect
not only the increase in the cost of living since 1996, but the increase in the commitment of time
necessarily required to fulfill the duties of such elective offices; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the current compensation for the Mayor and
members of Council even ·after being adjusted for increases in the CPI are not sufficient to
encourage persons from all economic backgrounds to participate in public service; and
WHEREAS, increasing the compensation of the Mayor and members of Council may provide
one incentive for citizens with modest financial incomes to consider public service; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to proclaim and establish a custom and policy of
evaluating and adjusting. the compensation levels for the Mayor and council members more
frequently than it has in the past.
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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY .THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO, THAT:
Section 1.
The monthly compensation for the office of Mayor shall be increased from $1,725.00 per
.
month to $2,325.00 per month; the monthly compensation for City Council members shall be
increased from $1,200.00 per month to$ 1,700.00 per month. In addition, compensation for the
office of Mayor and for City Council members shall be increased by an amount sufficient to allow
those officeholders to participate in health insurance benefits as follows. The Mayor and each
member of Council shall be· e ntitled· to receive a stipend in addition to their monthly compensation
equal to the cost of health insurance benefits authorized for regular full time City employees;
provided, however, that the stipend is actually used to purchase health insurance through the
City or a third party insurer and that the stipend does not exceed the cost of health
insurance premiwns for a single person. All increases in compensation as set forth ·herein shall
become effective upon the first regular City Council meeting in June 2001. In accordance with
Section 3.6 of the Home Rule Charter, no current member of the City Council, including the Mayor,
shall be entitled to receive such compensation increase until their present term of office has
expired and they have been duly elected or appointed to a new term.
Section 2.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional in a court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be
deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions thereof.
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ATTEST: '&
Section 3,
This ordinance shall not have any effect on existing litigation and shall not operate as
an abatement of any action or proceeding now pending under or by virtue of the ordinances
amended as herein provided, and the same shall be construed and concluded under such
prior
ordinances.
A public bearing on the ordinance shall be held on the 22 day of January 2001,
in the City Council Chambers, Aspen City Hall, Aspen, Colorado.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED as provided by law by the City Council of
the City of Aspen on the 22nd day of January 2001.
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FINALLY adopted, passed and approved this 12th day of Fe
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Kathryns.KCityClerk
AiTEST:
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JPW-02/13/01-G:\john\word\ords\SALARIES.doc
2019 Council and Mayor Salary Survey
Comparison Communities:
Population:
Form of
Government:
Mayor
Elected by:
Number
of
Council
membe
rs
(includi
ng
Mayor):
Salary of Mayor:
Salary of Council
Members:
Health Insurance
provided to Elected
Officials:
Aspen 7,359 Council‐Manager At‐large 5 $2,325/Month $1,700/Month yes or stipend
Avon 6,365 Council-Mayor* Council 7 $1,500/Month $750/Month yes
Basalt 4,170 Council-Manager At-large 7 $1,563/Month $1,042/Month no
Breckenridge 4,928 Council-Manager At-large 7 $1,500/Month $1,000/Month no
Park City, UT
8,378
Council-Manager-
Mayor**
At-large
6
$3,706/Month
$1,914/Month
yes
Snowmass Village
2,826
Council-Manager
At-large
5
$1,700/Month
$1,200/Month
$500 monthly cash
stipend to be
used for health
insurance
Steamboat Springs 12,965 Council-Manager Council 7 $1,192/Month $895/Month yes
Vail 5,483 Council-Manager Council 7 $1,000/Month $625/Month no
Winter Park 1,030 Council-Manager Council 7 $400/Meeting $200/Meeting no
Average: $1,811
(w/o per mtg.)
Average: $1,141 (w/o
per mtg.)
*Under the Avon Town Charter, a Council-Mayor form of government is established, it but also provides for a Council-Manager when the Council
determines such form is appropriate.
**Under the Park City Charter it states that the Mayor is the Chief Executive of the City. More information can be found here:
https://parkcity.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=2_Administration
Effective 4/2019
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