During the November 24th Fort Bragg City Council meeting, the council’s primary item of business was the discussion and approval of a raise for council members. The raise does not take effect until after the next election, which means only two of the current sitting city council members are guaranteed to receive that raise.
Currently, the council receives $510 per month. Their new stipend will be the state maximum for a city the size of Fort Bragg, which is $950 per month. According to Councilmember Peters, the old stipend worked out to around five dollars per hour. He pointed out that they attend far more meetings than those on the calendar, as they are also serving on county and regional committees. He said that he spends at least twenty hours per week on city business, not counting the conversations he has with constituents while running errands in town.
Five members of the public supported the increase wholeheartedly. One resident supported the idea of a raise but wanted to see it be smaller. She believed that they also receive per diems for meetings and health benefits. Peters said they do not receive per diems.
During public comment, several residents spoke up in opposition to the Flock cameras that have been installed in the city. Commenters were concerned about privacy and data access, which some suggested was available to outside agencies and could easily make it into the hands of ICE agents. One resident alleged that the company that makes the cameras owns the data and can use it at will. Chief Swift said the cameras are not for surveillance. The city recently added a portal that allows visitors to see who has accessed the data on its website.
Under consent, the city sent a letter to the Mendocino Superior Court outlining the reasons it was important to keep the Fort Bragg Courthouse open for coastal residents and made changes to the employee pay rates.
The city announced that the portal for the millsite reuse plans is up on the City’s website. Councilmember Albin-Smith reminded everyone that the holiday parade and tree lighting are scheduled for December 6th.