Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Attorney’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Toni Wheeler, City Attorney
DATE:	December 4, 2014
RE:	Ordinance Repealing Ord. 8951 Pertaining to the Salary of City Commissioners and the Mayor of the City

Please place Ordinance No. 9027 on the City Commission’s agenda for consideration and approval.  It repeals Ordinance No. 8951, adopted earlier in 2014, pertaining to the annual salaries of mayor and city commissioners.

Background

On January 21, 2014, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 8951, amending Chapter 1, Section 201 of the City Code pertaining to the salaries of city commissioners and the mayor.  Ordinance No. 8951 would have increased the salaries of commissioners and the mayor elected by Lawrence voters in future city elections. Current city commissioners would not be eligible for the increase until they are re-elected to the City Commission in a future local election.

As the City Commission considered the 2015 City budget, it decided on July 22, 2014, to hold off on instituting the salary increase for commissioners in an effort to reduce city expenditures.  Staff recommends Ordinance No. 8951 be repealed, and the former code provisions be reinstated setting the annual salaries of commissioners and mayor at $9,000 and $10,000 respectively. 

Action Requested

Staff recommends the City Commission adopt Ordinance No. 9027 pertaining to the salaries of commissioners and the mayor.