The Clearlake City Council conducted a first hearing on Thursday, Oct. 12, for amending the city”s Municipal Code in relation to addressing the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) on an annual basis. A waiving of the second reading and approval of the ordinance appears on consent calendar for Thursday, Oct. 26.
The first hearing of the Cost Of Living Adjustment Ordinance passed on a 3-0 vote with Mayor Joyce Overton, Vice Mayor Judy Thein and Councilmember Curt Giambruno present for the vote.
The amendment allows for the consideration of the council for either granting or denying COLA implementation on an annual basis.
“It is important the employees working for the City of Clearlake are paid a living wage for the work performed for the community,” City Administrator Kathy Kivley stated in her report to the council. “This is truly a cost of doing business.”
The ordinance will require that the city administrator and finance director consider COLA during the mid-year budget review and present options to the city council for all the employees irrespective of their bargaining unit. The ordinance will provide the council with an the options of choosing a COLA amount ranging from 1 percent to 5 percent or the council may deny COLA implementation completely. The council will be required to look at this option on a yearly basis.
According to the staff report submitted to the council, the ordinance incorporates a recognized Consumer Price Index currently used in most Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs).
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
