Camarillo City Council Raises Member’s Salary

Citizen’s Journal received a copy of a June 21^st email to the Camarillo City Council members written by a concerned resident, Lori McVicker.  

“During the 5:00 pm session tomorrow, you will be voting on giving yourselves a pay raise.  It’s interesting that when you wish to quietly approve an item, it’s during the early session.  Listed below are just a few issues that have been mishandled during your “leadership”.

1) Kueny settlement that cost us at least $600,000.

2) Buying the Old Courthouse for $1.4 million and selling it for $1.

3) The 20-year boondoggle of the Firehouse, to cost us $2.5 million – all for a restaurant?

4) Endless development

5) Still no Water Saving Program to offset development.

6) $5 million for the drainage ditch across from the outlets.

7) Voting for the VCTC Sales Tax increase to be put on the ballot, while wasting all of the above money

Camarillo Council members hold a part-time position that pays $1,400 a month, with health insurance, retirement, and a $200 car allowance.  Thousand Oaks’ and Ventura’s city council get paid much less than Camarillo, while their cities are much larger.  Considering your performance, approving a raise is self-serving to the point of being ridiculous”.

Sincerely, Lori McVicker 

At the June 22^nd meeting, in a split decision, Camarillo City Council members voted to increase their $1,400 monthly salary.  Vice Mayor Jan McDonald voted against the increase.  The 3% increase will be paid over two years with 1 ½ % effective January 2017 and an additional 1 ½ % effective in January 2018. 

Compensation was placed on the agenda due to a state law.  If no action was taken at this meeting, the council would have to wait two years for the 2018 election cycle to vote on an increase for its members. 

A potential 5% annual increase was on the table for consideration.  Councilmember Bill Little said he could not support a 5% raise.  Councilmember Kevin Kildee said he wouldn’t want to go over the 3% average raise proposed for all civil employees.  Mayor Mike Morgan and Councilmember Charlotte Craven also agreed to set a ceiling of 3%.   Jan McDonald advocated a zero percent increase.  To the point, a zero percent increase would have impacted any new council member potentially elected in the November 2016 cycle.

Logan McFadden is a Citizensjournal.us city reporter and a recently retired banker, residing in Camarillo.  He volunteers for the Heritage Action Sentinel team and serves as the AMAC Delegate to the 26^th Congressional District.

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