> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # City Clerk explores council options - URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-clerk-explores-council-options/ - Published: 2007-11-10T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T03:54:33.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import Take into account the high level of civic participation and the council has all the makings of a bloated agenda that almost never can be handled in the time allotted. Those factors prompted Bloom to discuss the issue of adding meetings with his colleagues, many of whom seemed reluctant to do so because of commitments in their personal lives, but, in the interest of the public process, they decided to have the city clerk do some research to see if some changes can be made. Bloom said holding a meeting every week may not be necessary but it is something to consider given that many issues, including the performance reviews for the city manager, city clerk, and city attorney, have been rescheduled multiple times because of time constraints. “I could foresee a number of meetings being canceled because we were able to get our work done,” Bloom said. “In no way am I suggesting that we have 52 meetings.” In 2004-05 the council met 31 times and is expected to match that this year, said City Clerk Maria Stewart, who is responsible for posting the agendas, collecting requests to speak from the public and documenting the minutes. Several council members said increasing the frequency of meetings could be considered a burden because of other commitments, such as work and family. Since council members are not full-time, but instead considered part-time and paid a monthly stipend, they cannot be expected to spend every minute on council business. If so, that may turn some people off, said Councilman Bobby Shriver, who admits that he has trouble attending meetings and researching key issues because of his dedication to his private work, which includes serving as chairman for DATA, a foundation to alleviate AIDS and poverty in Africa. Shriver also chairs the state Recreation and Parks Commission. “When I talk to people about running (for office), nobody has brought up money to me,” Shriver said. “The question is about time commitment, with people referring to the late meetings. If people had to go to a meeting every week, you would X out attractive candidates, and that’s a real danger.” Shriver wasn’t alone. Other council members expressed concerns about the impact weekly meetings would have on potential candidates, especially if the council became a full-time job. “I don’t think we can expect people to give up their careers for four years or however long they may be in office, and then once their out, have to reestablish themselves all over again,” said Council member Pam O’Connor, who also serves as chair of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Councilman Kevin McKeown said he was opposed to a full-time council because it would make elected officials “professional politicians,” concerned with raising money to stay in office, “and that’s exactly what the residents do not want.” Council meetings are only the “tip of the iceberg,” Councilman Ken Genser said. Council members are expected to attend commission meetings and community events too, which takes time away from other things. The mayor is expected to do even more. In addition to presiding over the council meetings, the mayor works with the mayor pro tem to build an agenda, and must also appear at several functions. In exchange, the mayor is paid slightly more than the council, earning $14,532 a year compared to the $12, 110 council member’s receive. What could help reduce the workload would be hiring another staff member, Bloom suggested. Today, the council has 1.5 staff members in addition to members of the city manager’s office who work collaboratively with the council and city staff. With e-mail making it easier to communicate with public officials, it has become increasingly difficult for council members to respond to each one, yet good communication is essential to public service, Bloom said. The mayor did not recommend designating a staff person for each member as is done in some cities. That was good news for Gender, who expressed opposition to doing so out of concern that a public employee could be used to further the career of an elected official. “It sets up something that has the potential for problems,” Genser said. As for pay, there did not seem to be a consensus. There is support for surveying other cities to see what their officials are paid. Council compensation has kept pace with inflation over the years, but the increase in workload may necessitate an increase of the base, Bloom said. A report from the city clerk’s office is expected in the coming months, at which time council members will debate the issue to see if more meetings, more staff and more pay are necessary for a community as complex and progressive as Santa Monica. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 10, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)