Antioch City Council Approves Pay Raise

by CC News August 28, 2024

written by CC News August 28, 2024

On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council voted to increase its pay from $1,604 to $1,900 for a total salary of $22,800 for the year. The pay increase will not take effect until the next city council is seated.

The move is in response to Senate Bill 329 which was passed—other cities in Contra Costa County have already taken similar steps for pay increases. (Note – City of Concord increased pay to $1,900 in August)

“I will caution the public that tomorrow on the bull crap blogs they will say we gave ourselves some percentage raise instead of giving the actual numbers. We are not giving ourselves a raise, we are giving the next council a salary adjustment, stated Hernandez-Thorpe. “But they will do the garbage that they do and it will be on Nextdoor and a whole bunch of cuckoos will be there commenting on it as well.”

Councilmember Lori Ogorchock opposed the salary increase.

“I didn’t vote for this last time and I am not voting for it this time,” stated Ogorchock noting Piedmont receives zero pay and in many cities this is volunteer for them.

Councilmember Mike Barbanica stated the city, along with others, have gone years without keeping up with council pay raises, but hours and costs with what they do increase.

“If we don’t keep up with this now, when the big raise comes people will wonder why they did that such a big raise,” said Barbanica who suggested they stay with the small raise each cycle adding that because of politics, no one wants to say they gave themselves a raise. “I support this. I am not here next year, whoever is here, you deserve this. You do a lot of work, its costly to do this work and good for you.”

Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker said she didn’t live in Piedmont nor independently wealthy or retired.

“I appreciate the raise,” said Torres-Walker.

The Antioch City Council then voted 4-1 with Ogorchock dissenting.

Other Actions

Hire Bessie M. Scott as City Manager: After a 3-2 council vote, Scott will receive a 2-year contract at $263,888k per year, along with $20k in moving expenses — full recap
Pass Just Cause Eviction Ordinance: In a 5-0 vote, the city council approved a Just Cause Eviction Ordinance modeled after the City of Bell Garden’s Ordinance.The Ordinance has changed from the draft presented at the May 15, 2024 meetings in the following ways:
- Tenants now have an absolute right of first refusal to return to a unit when evicted for substantial repairs or renovations (AMC Section 11-6.04(A)(2)(b)(i).)
- The elements of the Ellis Act (Cal. Gov. Code Section 7060 et seq.) have been incorporated into the Ordinance language (AMC Section 11-6.04(A)(2)(d).)
- The language relating to evictions for Owner Move has been clarified to better express the conditions that must be met for valid evictions. (AMC Section 11- 6.04(A)(2)(a)(i).)
- Minor timing changes relating to notice periods.
Reject Good Chance Preliminary Development Plan: Council voted 5-0 against a proposal to construct 13 residential units over 16.15-acres on Somersville Road, south of James Donlon Boulevard near the entrance of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve Park — note, this was really 26 units when ADU’s included.