Council Gridlocks on Pay-Limiting Measures

Measures D and E, the voter-passed initiatives designed to limit compensation of City Council members and the city manager, were put off for two more weeks when the City Council gridlocked Tuesday night.

Council voted 2-2, with Mayor Randon Lane absent, on approving the measures. Mayor Pro Tem Doug McAllister and Councilman Alan Long voted in favor; Councilman Rick Gibbs and Councilwoman Kelly Bennett voted no. According to City code, if there is a tie vote the matter is automatically moved to the next meeting.

The measures now up for approval are not the original text approved by two-thirds of Murrieta voters in November. Rather, they have been amended by City Council to avoid legalities. After several Council meetings and staff revisions, Council voted 3-2 approving the amended measures at their last meeting; tonight they were up for an implementing vote.

Bob Kowell, a proponent of the measures, was against the City making any changes to the initiatives written.

"We the people have the right to set the compensation," Kowell said to the Council.

Kowell said California code includes a section that gives voters the rights to increase or decrease the amounts paid to Council, including benefits paid above salary.

"This whole thing is on compensation, not just salary," Kowell said. "It is the total compensation we are talking about."

He said the same applies for the city manager salary.

The gridlock vote means the measures will come back for a vote at the Council meeting on April 5. They would need to be voted on twice before they can be implemented.

Measure C, which limits Council terms to two consecutive four-year terms, passed its final vote tonight making it effective within 30 days.