Politics & Government

City Council Splits Vote on Pay-Limiting Measures D, E

Mayor Randon Lane and Councilmen Alan Long and Doug McAllister voted yes at Tuesday's meeting, with Councilmembers Kelly Bennett and Rick Gibbs casting no votes.

The salary-capping Measures D and E were narrowly passed by City Council Tuesday evening with a vote of 3-2.

It was the second reading of the ordinances intended by voters to limit the pay of Murrieta City Councilmembers and the City Manager. The vote was delayed after a , when Mayor Randon Lane was absent.

Mayor Randon Lane and Councilmen Alan Long and Doug McAllister voted yes at Tuesday's meeting, with Councilmembers Kelly Bennett and Rick Gibbs casting no votes. No comments were made by any of the Councilmembers about the decision. The matter has been discussed at length in prior meetings.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Members of the public who spoke included Bob Kowell, one of the main proponents of Measures D and E, passed by voters five months ago and intended to take effect immediately.

"There are still the issues I believe are important, that are limiting the size of the City Council expenditures," Kowell said.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Measure D was meant to limit the amount spent on City Councilmembers to 15 percent of the median family income in Murrieta, including benefits and "club memberships," Kowell has said.

"Maybe we can limit (attending WRCOG and League of Cities) to the mayor only instead of all City Councilmembers," Kowell said. "And to continue to receive health care when the people voted on it is not the intent of the people."

The way Measure D was rewritten allows current City Councilmembers to continue receiving health care benefits until their terms are over, Kowell said after the meeting. Future City Councilmembers will not receive them.

Three Councilmembers receive $14,699 worth of health and dental benefits from the City annually, while one receies $12,504. Councilman Rick Gibbs does not elect to take the benefits package. , Mayor Randon Lane said he was willing to not take the benefits.

Kowell in the past threatened to take legal action against the City for not implementing the measures as written and approved by the voters. After Tuesday's meeting, Kowell said he wasn't planning on taking immediate action, but that he wasn't going to "drop it," either.

Councilwoman Kelly Bennett, who is an attorney, that the measures were an improper delegation by the people, as was the City trying to change them to make them more legal.

Measure E was intended by proponents to limit the City Manager's pay to 2.5 times the median Murrieta income. Measure E as passed by the City Tuesday allows City Council to set the City Manager's pay, but it will be based on the salaries of similar positions in similar cities, as well as be limited to 2.5 times the median family income in Murrieta. The limit will not affect City Manager Rick Dudley's current contract.

Murrieta resident Diana Serafin, a supporter of the measures, said according to the California constitution, "the power lies with the people."

"(Measures) C, D and E still have not been passed as we the people have put them on the ballot," Serafin said.

"I wish you would pass the ordinance as we the people voted on it. It was a super majority. People are very frustrated because our City Council is not listening to us."

The group is working with Temecula residents to get similar measures on the ballot in Temecula.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here