Pay Raise In Store For Woodbury Mayor, Council

Christopher Burns says he made more money per hour as a 17-year-old working at city ice rinks and warming houses than he does some months as a city councilman.

Still, he said, “I’m not all that gung-ho about raising the council’s pay.”

That sentiment was echoed by his peers during a Woodbury City Council workshop Wednesday, though the group eventually agreed to increases for the mayor and council jobs.

Among the 15 most populated cities in Minnesota, Woodbury pays its mayor and council members the least. The mayor makes $8,520 a year and council members get $6,540. (The city hasn’t addressed the matter since 2006.)

“I think it’s time to adjust the pay,” Councilwoman Julie Ohs said. “It’s almost embarrassing.”

Councilman Paul Rebholz suggested the city increase the pay half of what staff recommended, which would bring the mayor’s pay up to about $11,000 a year and about $8,800 for council members, he said.

Most council members seemed to favor that plan, though Burns told Patch he would only raise the mayor's pay and added that he does not favor raising pay for council members at this time.

During the meeting, Rebholz quoted himself in a Patch story from earlier this week: “I don’t do this for the compensation. None of us do.”

But he also acknowledged the additional duties council members have taken on in recent years—acting as the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority among them—and said the city also wants to attract strong candidates.

“The community needs to put some value on the pay for the office,” Rebholz said, adding later: “We want to have qualified candidates that think it’s worth the energy.”

He noted that the proposed increase—which wasn’t formally approved and wouldn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2013—would bring Woodbury up to 14 among the state’s 15 most populated cities.

At the same time, however, the council wants to make sure the pay doesn’t become a “run for the money,” Councilwoman Amy Scoggins said, adding that she doesn’t want the salaries to go above the city’s population rank. She also noted how well run the city is and its rank atop many categories among Minnesota cities.

Of course, if the public has issues with the raises, people “can tell us each of these Novembers,” Rebholz said.

While council members also considered waiting to make a decision on the pay until they have a clearer picture of the 2013 budget, Rebholz said getting the word out now would be beneficial for those considering a run for office.

Cities with similar populations—Eagan and Maple Grove—pay their mayors and council members $13,624 and $10,005 and $14,500 and $12,500, respectively.