City council votes on pay cuts

The Palm Desert City Council was the highest paid council in the valley and among the highest paid in the state — but not anymore.

“A lot of their time spent is their own decision, not city appointed. We wanted that changed to be more in line with what was happening out here in the desert,” Leo Sullivan, who is on the Council Compensation Committee, said.

The council voted unanimously to cut the council’s annual salary from $48,279 to $22,500.

“I think the decision spoke for itself,” Palm Desert city council member Jan Harnik said.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” Palm Desert mayor Bob Spiegel said.

The idea to cut salaries came from council woman Cindy Finerty in April, after the city cut 15 people from its staff — 3 layoffs and 12 accepted voluntary severance packages — and after Palm Desert lost 20 million in Redevelopment funds.

“We all realized we needed to check the compensation, and it was put in order by a neutral committee of community members that we all respect,” Harnik said.

Leo Sullivan is on that committee.

“We felt the city was being overpaid for the amount of work they do,” he said.

This bodes the question: is being a member of a city council a full time or part time job?

“Our opinion is it’s a part time job,” Sullivan said.

“It depends on the council member. We all have different duties, we all have different committees and commissions that we’re appointed to,” Harnik said.

Another change the committee suggested was a benefit cap of $7500 per year per council member.

“I’m concerned about that because I’m married, and my wife has always been on the ability to get taken care of in the hospital. I would like to see that continued. We do it for all the other employees in the city, and I don’t think the council should be any different,” Spiegel said.

The city attorney found a conflict of interest in the benefit part of the agenda, though, so that will be voted on at the next city council meeting.