WALNUT CREEK, CA — The Walnut Creek City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to advance an ordinance raising their compensation from $650 to $1,600 per month, nearly 25 years after the city last increased the amount.
The increase will take effect Dec. 2, when the new council begins its term. California law prevents compensation changes from applying during a council member's current term.
Walnut Creek last adjusted council compensation in 2002. Human Resources Director Trish Raver said the city made only five adjustments during the past 50 years.
State legislation that took effect in January 2024 raised population-based compensation limits and added another method for cities to adjust pay for inflation.
Walnut Creek, with a population of 70,127, falls within the state's 50,000-to-75,000 population tier, which allows council members to receive $1,600 per month, she said.
Most general law cities in Contra Costa County pay council members the population-based rate established under the legislation, Raver said.
Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga do not compensate their council members.
Mayor Kevin Wilk estimated that council duties consume 80 to 100 hours per month, placing the current compensation at about $6.50 to $8 per hour. Mayors assume additional weekly obligations, he said.
Council members also pay from their own pockets to attend nonprofit galas, fundraisers, lunches, coffee meetings, and other community events, Wilk said.
Tickets and donations connected to nonprofit events come out of their pocket.
"Nobody's getting rich being on city council," Wilk said. "But council members shouldn't have to lose money or be in the red every single month for serving either."
Council members said low compensation can prevent parents, younger residents, teachers, and people who must take unpaid time away from work from seeking office.
"It is interesting to open the publicly available pay scale for the entire city and notice that we're on the last page because it's the lowest paid," Council Member Cindy Silva said.
The council introduced the ordinance and waived its reading after receiving no public comments. The measure includes a $950 monthly increase and takes effect one day after the new council members are seated.
"I think that we've done something for the future of Walnut Creek and to help people to run where they might not have been able to before," Wilk said.
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