What happened
The council approved 80% pay raises for both the mayor and council members, bringing the mayor's salary to nearly $7,000 per month and council pay to about $2,500 monthly. The raises passed 6-1 with Martinez abstaining, marking the first salary increase since 2007.
The council unanimously created a separate business tax class for auto dealerships with lower rates. This change settles a 2022 lawsuit filed by Hilltop auto dealers who claimed the city's previous tax structure discriminated against their businesses.
The council approved a temporary pause on new parklet permits while staff updates confusing rules about locations and duration. The unanimous vote affects restaurants and businesses that want to build new outdoor dining areas in parking spaces.
Two photography companies, My Legacy Matters and Paper Crane Design, received contracts worth up to $50,000 each annually for city projects like brochures and employee headshots. The council selected these firms from 17 applicants in a unanimous vote.
The council approved the annual police military equipment report and updated related policies, with Zepeda and Robinson abstaining from the 5-2 vote. State law requires cities to track police use of items like armored vehicles and flash-bang devices.
The council approved 13 routine items on consent, including a report on new city employees hired since the last meeting.
Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records
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