Alameda Election 2022 News

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney Yibin Shen

Measure E is an amendment to the Charter of the City of Alameda (City). If approved by the voters, it would authorize the City Council to revise the current salaries for the Mayor and Council members.

The City Charter is the City’s “constitution”. City voters adopted the Charter and City voters must approve any amendments to the Charter.

Currently, the Charter provides the monthly salary of the Mayor is $200, plus $50/month for each Council meeting the Mayor attends (up to two meetings per month), a total annual salary of no more than $3,600. The Charter provides the monthly salary for Councilmembers is $50/month for each Council meeting a Councilmember attends (up to two meetings per month), an annual salary of no more than $1,200. The voters approved a Charter amendment in 1970 establishing the Mayor’s current $200/month salary and approved a Charter amendment in 1977 further providing Councilmembers, including the Mayor, with the $50 salary for each Council meeting attended. The Charter also provides that the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers may not be increased during the term of office of the Mayor or Councilmember.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics collects and publishes data concerning employment and wages such as the salaries for numerous occupations.

The proposed Charter amendment would allow the City Council to revise the annual salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers not to exceed 30% of the salary for “All Occupations, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, San Francisco- Oakland-Hayward Area.” At the time this Impartial Analysis is being written (July 2022), under that formula, the not to exceed annual salary for Mayor and Councilmembers would be approximately $25,977.

If the measure is passed, the City Council, at a future noticed public meeting could determine, using the “not to exceed” formula above, what its members’ (including the Mayor) actual salaries would be. Also, if the measure is passed, City Council could revise the salaries anytime thereafter at a noticed public meeting. However, any salary established pursuant to this Charter amendment could not go into effect before July 2023. The current salaries would remain in effect, until revised and effective consistent with this Charter amendment.

In addition to salaries, City Councilmembers, including the Mayor, also receive certain benefits, such as healthcare and a car allowance, that are the same as the benefits provided by the City to executive employees. Moreover, each Councilmember, including the Mayor, receives a technology allowance of $100 a month. The Charter further provides the Mayor with $50 a month for use in the discharge of their duties. Councilmembers, including the Mayor, may also receive compensation/reimbursements for their service on regional bodies directly from such bodies. This Charter amendment neither enhances nor decreases those benefits, allowances, compensation or reimbursements.

A YES vote approves the measure and approves the amendments to the City Charter.

A NO vote rejects the measure and disapproves the amendments to the City Charter.

Previous Coverage: Salary Increase for Council on November Ballot.

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney Yibin Shen

Measure F is an ordinance authorizing the City to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), paid by persons staying at local hotels, motels, and short-term rentals, from 10% to 14%. Proceeds of the tax would be paid into the City’s general fund and would be available to the City for any lawful governmental purpose.

A TOT is a tax imposed on the privilege of occupancy at a hotel, motel, short-term rental and other similar places where guests pay to stay on a short-term basis. Currently, guests are required to pay the TOT in the amount of 10% of the total rent charged for an entire stay, which the hotel, motel, or short-term rental operator collects and remits to the City monthly. The City reports that on average over the last four years, the City has received approximately $2 million annually from the TOT.

If this measure is approved, the City estimates that the increase in the TOT rate will result in additional revenue to the City of approximately $700,000 to $910,000 annually. These funds may be used for City services such as maintaining 9-1-1 emergency response times, supporting fire, paramedic, and police services, repairing potholes, and maintaining City parks and beaches. This tax would remain in effect until terminated by the voters.

On July 5, 2022, the City Council conditionally adopted an ordinance, subject to final approval by the voters at this election, increasing the City’s TOT from 10% to 14%. Because this increase in the TOT would be a general tax, the tax must be approved by a majority of the voters casting ballots on the measure at a regularly scheduled election at which members of the Alameda City Council will be elected. The next such election is scheduled for November 8, 2022.

If this measure is approved, the increased tax is expected to be collected beginning January 2023. A YES vote approves the measure and authorizes the proposed TOT increase.
A NO vote rejects the measure and rejects the proposed TOT increase.

More information from the City’s website.