CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER FIRST PAY INCREASE SINCE 1986.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Noting they have not received a pay raise since 1986 - even as their jobs have become more demanding - City Council members on Tuesday will consider increasing their salaries.

Council members are paid $1,659 per month, plus health care benefits. The compensation breaks down to $800 for attending council meetings, $739 for car allowance and $120 for going to Redevelopment Agency meetings.

Councilman Bob Yousefian said while being a city councilman is supposed to be only a part-time job, he puts in 45 to 60 hours a week to fulfill the responsibilities that come with his office.

``The amount of time I spend here and what I get paid, I don't even get minimum wage. It doesn't even cover our expenses,'' he said.

Neither council members nor city staffers have decided how much of an increase is warranted. The issue is expected to be hotly debated.

Since getting elected last year, Yousefian said, he had to close his contracting business because of the demands of being a councilman.

``People are just calling, sending e-mails and letters. They want us almost everywhere,'' he said. ``If you don't show up, they get upset.''

Mayor Rafi Manoukian, an accountant who is married with three young children, said holding public office has also taken a toll on his business and family life.

``The city is not what it was 10 or 15 years ago. The city has grown tremendously, and the work has grown tremendously,'' he said.

Manoukian said he is somewhat resigned to the minimum compensation because he understands holding public office is about serving the community.

``This is what I chose. It's my decision. I will stand by my decision,'' he said.

Councilman Dave Weaver said while he believes some kind of pay increase is justified, he doesn't want money to become the reason people choose to run for public office.

``My fear is if you start letting a part-time council member make as much as someone who is full-time, you are going to find ... stacks of people running for council,'' he said.

Under the city charter, elected officials are allowed to increase the council portion of their pay by 5 percent each year. Theoretically, council pay could have been bumped up from $800 per month to $1,746, if a 5 percent adjustment had been made each year since 1986.

However, even if the council members vote for the pay raise, they are prohibited by the charter from getting the increase during their term. The increase does not apply to them until they have been re-elected, unless they put the matter up for a vote on the ballot.

In addition to increasing their council pay, elected officials can vote to increase their pay for attending Redevelopment Agency meetings. Currently, they are paid $30 per meeting or $120 per month. There are no state or city regulations restricting pay for Redevelopment Agency meetings.

A third avenue of increase for the City Council would be to start paying themselves for attending Housing Authority meetings. Currently, they receive no compensation for going to those meetings.

The City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 613 E. Broadway.