Council members may be compensated for their services as such by the payment of salary and/or the receipt of benefits under City sponsored benefit plans. For terms of Council members beginning on the first day of January, 2002, and the remainder of the terms of incumbent Council members in office on the effective date of the amendment of this Section 38, the compensation of Council members, including the cost to the City of any benefits, shall be $530 per month, being the salary and cost of benefits to which a Council member is entitled in calendar year 2001. For terms of Council members beginning on or after the first day of January, 2004, the annual compensation of Council members, including benefits, if any, shall not be subject to the limitation set forth in the preceding sentence and shall be in an amount established by a non-emergency ordinance of Council passed at least one year prior to the beginning of the term to be thereby affected. In the event that Council fails for any reason to adopt an ordinance establishing the compensation of its members or any ordinance so adopted is rejected by referendum, the annual compensation then in effect shall continue for the succeeding term without further action of Council.
Absence of four successive regular meetings shall operate to vacate the seat of a member of Council, unless such absence is authorized or excused by Council except that Council may provide by Ordinance for a temporary replacement of the absent Council member in those instances where such absence is authorized or excused.
(Amended Nov. 8, 2011)