Is a raise in order for the Santa Clara Valley Water District
board of directors? The public will have the opportunity to discuss
the water district’s recommendation for one at a hearing in two
months at its San Jose headquarters.
Is a raise in order for the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors? The public will have the opportunity to discuss the water district’s recommendation for one at a hearing in two months at its San Jose headquarters.
The California Water Code authorizes the board to increase compensation up to 5 percent every year, though in 2009 the board voted against a raise.
A 5 percent increase for each meeting or “day’s service,” according to the agenda item, would be $286.03 if approved following the public hearing set for 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose. The pay update would cost the district $10,920 for the 2010-11 fiscal year, from Jan. 1 through June 30.
Following the public hearing, the board may vote to increase compensation, keep it at the 2010 level or establish a rate that falls somewhere in between.
Currently, board members are paid $260.03 per meeting for up to 10 meetings, events and activities each month. The seven-member board of directors is also reimbursed for mileage at a rate of $.50 per mile, and each director is allocated a $2,500 discretionary stipend each year. In June, the Dispatch reported Cy Mann, South County at-large director, spent part of his discretionary money on a 64-gigabyte iPad that he said he uses to view lengthy board documents.
From Jan. 1 to March 31, District 1 Director Rosemary Kamei was paid $7,800.90 for attending 30 meetings, ceremonies and events in those three months. Also, Kamei received compensation for 1,790 miles of driving – or $895. Kamei resides in Morgan Hill and the majority of meetings she must attend are in San Jose.
At the 9:30 a.m. meeting today, the board of directors is expected to approve the public hearing time and date. If adopted, the raise will not affect Mann or Kamei because neither are seeking re-election to board of directors. Mann is running for a seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Education and Kamei has decided to not run for any elected position that will be decided by voters Nov. 2.
