SACRAMENTO, Calif — Expressionless in the face of heated public comment, City Manager Howard Chan awaited the Sacramento City Council's vote on his proposed raise from a base salary of $400,000 to $420,000 and 240 hours of leave time.
After a motion by District 6 councilmember Eric Guerra, Chan will have to keep waiting, for now.
Guerra's motion tabled Chan's compensation decision and would amend the rules so that a city manager can no longer put their own pay on the agenda.
"I think that today’s action is going to make sure that every executive officer and every employee that reports to the city council is going to have a show strong proof of any type of compensation, whether its cost of living or merit going forward," Guerra told ABC10.
It marked a reversal from the City Council's previous decision in a late-night special meeting to approve his pay raise.
Several councilmembers, and the mayor, apologized for the previous action, which took place in a meeting that violated state law.
"I owe the community an apology for allowing the matter to be heard at the holiday period of time when it was a violation of the Brown Act," Steinberg said, referring to the law meant to ensure transparency in government meetings and records.
This time, the mayor said he had to draw the line at the additional hours of leave time.
“It’s too much, in light of his current compensation and in light of the current situation that the city finds itself in, in terms of the deficit. It’s the wrong appearance," Steinberg said.
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