Richmond City Council Finalizes 80% Pay Increase

At its January 21 meeting, the Richmond City Council unanimously approved its 80% raise while also approving a resolution on prison labor.

The action came in two separate votes with the city councilmembers approving the mayor’s salary increase—the mayor was not permitted to vote. The council then unanimously approved the city council pay.

With the second reading for the raises approved, the mayors salary jumps from $3,875 to $6,975 per month. For councilmembers, they jump from $1,402.50 to $2,524.50 per month.

At its previous meeting, Mayor Eduardo Martinez justified the raise citing it “these are 24-7 jobs” and it was difficult to say how many hours he puts in along with preparation time. He also said during vacations, they work during vacation time. He also said he was working during the Christmas holidays.

“This is not an easy job,” said Martinez. “Because of the work this council has done, we are in better shape than we ever were.”

He also said they had 98 boards they had to serve on and divide that by 7-members of the council and the public would see the work being done.

“If anyone would like to shadow me to see how much work I do, you are welcome to do so,” said Martinez.

The council went on to defend the raises for nearly 30 minutes.

Like many other cities, the move was justified using senate Bill 329. The salaries approved by ordinance under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:

(A) In cities up to and including 35,000 in population, up to and including nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) per month.
(B) In cities over 35,000 up to and including 50,000 in population, up to and including one thousand two hundred seventy-five dollars ($1,275) per month.
(C) In cities over 50,000 up to and including 75,000 in population, up to and including one thousand six hundred dollars ($1,600) per month.
(D) In cities over 75,000 up to and including 150,000 in population, up to and including one thousand nine hundred dollars ($1,900) per month.
(E) In cities over 150,000 up to and including 250,000 in population, up to and including two thousand five hundred fifty dollars ($2,550) per month.
(F) In cities over 250,000 population, up to and including three thousand two hundred dollars ($3,200) per month.

Approved: Resolution to prohibit the purchase of products made with Prison Labor

The Richmond City Council adopted a resolution declaring that the City of Richmond will not purchase any products produced with prison labor and DIRECT staff to conduct an analysis of current products/suppliers produced with prison labor and utilized by City and return with recommendations for alternatives to utilize suppliers that do not use prison labor to produce goods.

This resolution requires the City to take the following actions:

The City of Richmond shall not purchase any products known to be produced wholly or in part by the labor of incarcerated individuals who are part of a prison labor force.
The City of Richmond shall endeavor to identify suppliers and vendors who align with the City’s commitment to ethical labor practices and who do not utilize prison labor in the manufacturing of their products.
The City of Richmond shall require all potential suppliers and vendors to disclose whether their products are made with prison labor as part of the City’s procurement process.
The resolution shall apply to all future contracts and procurement processes initiated after the effective date of this resolution.
The City of Richmond shall review its current contracts and engagements and will take appropriate steps to transition away from any agreements that do not comply with the values expressed in this resolution.
The City of Richmond encourages other municipalities and governmental entities to adopt similar policies that promote ethical procurement practices.

2023 Pay + Benefits Around Contra Costa County

According to Transparent California, in 2023, here is a look at what each Richmond councilmember and the mayor made (not including travel):

$73,860 – Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
$56,258 – Councilmember Melvin Willis
$51,441 – Mayor Eduard Martinez
$45,066 – Councilmember Doria Robinson
$29,412 – Councilmember Soheila Bana
$26,873 – Councilmember Cesar Zepeda
$21,270 – Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin

Compared to other elected in 2023 (total pay + benefits):

$45,045 – San Ramon Councilmember Mark Armstrong
$44,574 – Concord Mayor Edi Birsan
$42,512 – San Ramon Councilmember Marisol Rubio
$39,446 – Pittsburg Councilmember Shanelle Scales-Preston
$36,015 – San Ramon Mayor David Hudson
$33,707 – Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant
$33,482 – Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe
$31,784 – Antioch Councilmember Monica Wilson
$31,051 – Antioch Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker
$28,749 – Pittsburg Councilmember Juan Antonio Banales
$21,756 – Walnut Creek Mayor Loella Haskey
$18,669 – Walnut Creek Councilmember Kevin Wilk
$17,925 – Pinole Councilmember Devin Murphy
$17,871 – Concord Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano
$17,841 – Concord Councilmember Carlyn Obringer
$17,788 – Brentwood City Councilmember Susannah Meyer
$17,366 – Concord Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister
$6,690 – El Cerrito Mayor Tessa Rudnick
$6,690 – El Cerrito Councilmember Lisa Motoyama
$5,481 – Oakley Mayor Anissa Williams

Editors Notes: Recent Pay Raises Around Contra Costa County

Aug 28, 2024 – Antioch City Council Approves Pay Raise
Aug 17, 2023 – Concord City Council Votes to Increase Monthly Pay to $1900
Aug 14, 2023 – Oakley City Council Pay Could Increase by $800 per Month
July 3, 2023 – City Council Pay Cap Bill Signed Into Law
Aug 24, 2022 – Brentwood City Council Approves 22.5% Pay Increase

Richmond Uses Outdated Council Pay Salary Survey

Below is a document used in the staff report highlighting council pay, however, its dated given multiple cities since summer of 2023 have increased pay–Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Oakley (omitted from their survey) have all taken pay increases.

Here is the graphic: