(a) Employers shall pay employees no less than the minimum wage set forth in this section for each hour worked within the geographic boundaries of the City of Palo Alto.
(b) The minimum wage shall be an hourly rate of eleven dollars ($11.00) through December 31, 2016. On January 1, 2017, the minimum wage shall be an hourly rate of twelve dollars ($12.00). On January 1, 2018, the minimum wage shall be an hourly rate of thirteen dollars and fifty cents ($13.50). On January 1, 2019, the minimum wage shall be an hourly rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00). To prevent inflation from eroding its value, beginning on January 1, 2020, and each January 1st thereafter, the minimum wage shall increase by an amount corresponding to the increase, if any, in the cost of living, not to exceed 5%. The prior year's increase in the cost of living shall be measured by the percentage increase, if any, as of August of the immediately preceding year of the Bay Area Consumer Price Index (Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, San Francisco- Oakland-San Jose, CA for All Items) or its successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor or its successor agency, with the amount of the minimum wage increase rounded to the nearest multiple of five cents ($.05). If there is no net increase in the cost of living, the minimum wage shall remain unchanged for that year. The adjusted minimum wage shall be announced by October 1st of each year, or as soon as practicable thereafter if the Consumer Price Index for August has not yet been published, and shall become effective as the new minimum wage on January 1st of each year.
(c) A violation for unlawfully failing to pay the minimum wage shall be deemed to continue from the date immediately following the date that the wages were due and payable as provided in Part 1 (commencing with Sec. 200) of Division 2 of the California Labor Code, to the date immediately preceding the date the wages are paid in full.
(Ord. 5452 § 1, 2018: Ord. 5388 § 1, 2016: Ord. 5355 § 1 (part), 2015)