West Covina will discuss in the coming months whether to eliminate the health, retirement and other benefits council members are offered each year — an idea that garnered support during the City Council elections in November.
“We are a volunteer position,” Councilman Lloyd Johnson said. “Benefits that are above and beyond the stipend I would like to see eliminated.”
Johnson received unanimous support for a motion asking city staff to study the council’s current benefits and explore options for changing or eliminating them.
Council members currently receive life, dental, vision and health insurance, along with a $300 per month car allowance, $300 per month in deferred compensation and retirement benefits through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, according to city staff. Each council member also receives a monthly stipend of $765.
Proponents of the benefits have argued that they provide an incentive for councilmembers who may not have benefits through other jobs. While the position is an elected one, it can feel like a full-time or part-time job at times, former Mayor Fred Sykes said.
Councilman Tony Wu, who was elected in November, joked on Tuesday that his new role in the city has taken up much more time than he had expected, but he agreed with Johnson that some benefits should be eliminated to save the city money.
“When people say this is a part-time job, now I feel like my part-time job (has) become my full-time job,” Wu said, noting that he has kept his campaign promise to decline all benefits offered by the city.
Still, he added that he does worry that future candidates may not have adequate benefits and that it may be best to keep the option available.
Residents who spoke during public comment agreed the benefits should be reduced.
“These benefits are way out of line,” said Elsie Messman, noting that a single benefit can more than $28,000 over a four-year term. “It’s time to stop and have a stipend and mileage and that should really be enough.”
Staff is expected to report back to the council in February.
