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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct amount the change in compensation will cost the city per year.
During its meeting on May 21, the Menlo Park City Council voted unanimously as a consent item to approve a pay increase for council members for the first time since the year 2000, raising their stipends from $640 to $950 per month. This change will cost the city an additional $18,600 per year.
This ordinance also codifies the position of vice mayor, which was previously called mayor pro tempore, in Menlo Park’s municipal code.
“I don’t think any of us do this job to get rich, and so I think this is just something that is long overdue,” said Council member Jen Wolosin during a first reading of the ordinance on May 14. “I’ve already announced that I’m not running again so I won’t be a beneficiary of this, I think this is just trying to make this better for those who follow us.”
This increase in Menlo Park council pay comes as a result of Senate Bill 329, which was passed in June 2023 and gives cities in California a one-time opportunity to “reset” city council compensation to keep pace with inflation. City councils can later increase compensation beyond the limits of this initial “reset,” but future pay hikes may not exceed 5% each year, or the rate of yearly inflation as determined by the California Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater.
Following the passage of SB 329, several cities around the Bay Area also chose to approve pay increases for their city council members, including Belmont, Los Altos, Palo Alto, San Carlos and San Mateo.
“I am glad to see this as council stipends are a helpful way to cover costs for those serving in this role. Whether that be costs for babysitters, or transportation or material costs of printing out extra fliers and handing things out,” said Council member Maria Doerr at the May 14 meeting. “Of course I want to acknowledge that stipends, even with the upgrade, of course [are] not enough to replace lost income. So it doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to help make councils more diverse and more representative of communities, but I think it is an important factor to help ensure there is recognition and some help to cover costs of serving.”
‘Of course I want to acknowledge that stipends, even with the upgrade, of course [are] not enough to replace lost income.’
Council member maria doerr
The increase in compensation will be applied to the seated members of the council following the November 2024 election.
