Laguna Woods Municipal Code Ch. 2.02 City Council

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 26-01, § 4(Exh. A), adopted Feb. 18, 2026, amended Ch. 2.02 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 2.02, §§ 2.02.010, 2.02.020, pertained to City Council generally, and derived from Ord. No. 99-07, §§ 1, 2, adopted April 21, 1999; Ord. No. 13-01, §§ 1, 2, adopted Feb. 20, 2013.

(a) In accordance with Government Code § 36516 and Government Code § 1223, each member of the City Council shall be entitled to a salary in an amount of $300.00 per month for all months prior to January 2027. Such compensation shall be payable in the same manner as salaries are paid to other officers and employees of the City. Alternatively, each member of the City Council may, in lieu of the $300.00 per month compensation, accept a vehicle reimbursement allowance in the amount of $300.00 per month.

(b) In accordance with California Government Code Section 36516 et al., each member of the City Council shall be eligible to receive a salary of $500.00 per month, beginning with salaries paid for the month of January 2027. Salaries shall be payable at the same time and by the same methods as City employees are regularly paid for the first pay period of each month, except when a member of the City Council assumes office in which case their first payment may occur in an alternate pay period, regardless of whether it is the first pay period of the month. Salaries shall be subject to all applicable payroll taxes and withholdings. Any member of the City Council may choose to waive any or all of their salary by filing written notice of such with the City Clerk's office.

(Ord. No. 26-01, § 4(Exh. A), 2-18-2026)

(a) Generally. In accordance with California Government Code sections 36514.5 and 53232.2, each member of the City Council may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, subject to the provisions of this section and compliance with other applicable laws.

(b) Applicability. This section does not apply to the City's direct payment of expenses on behalf of members of the City Council (e.g., the City's payment of conference registration and lodging costs using a City-issued check or credit card). Such payments shall comply with all applicable laws and City Council policies including, but not limited to, City Council-adopted budgets.

(c) Definitions. For purposes of this section only, the following definitions shall apply, in addition to those set forth in section 3.18.030 of this Code:

Performance of official duties shall mean:

(1) Participation as a representative of the City in any conference, event, meeting, organized educational activity, or other occurrence;

(2) Participation in any conference, event, meeting, organized educational activity, or other occurrence for the purpose of education or training relevant to their elected office; or

(3) Any activity described in Article 2.4 of California Government Code (commencing with Section 53234).

(d) Conditions for reimbursement.

(1) All expenses for which reimbursement is sought shall be approved by the City Council, in a public meeting, before the expense is incurred.

a. Requested reimbursements that can be accommodated within adopted City Council department budgets shall be agendized as part of the consent calendar section of the public meeting agenda.

b. Requested reimbursements that cannot be accommodated within adopted City Council department budgets shall be agendized as part of the new business section of the public meeting agenda, together with a corresponding budget adjustment for City Council consideration.

c. Requested reimbursements that are included in a City Council-adopted budget shall be deemed approved on the date such budget was adopted.

(2) All expenses for which reimbursement is sought shall require the presentation of receipts (or comparable documentation) substantiating that the expenses were incurred by the member of the City Council.

(3) Lodging costs shall not exceed the maximum group rate published by the conference or activity sponsor, provided that lodging at the group rate is available to the member of the City Council at the time of booking. If the group rate is unavailable, comparable lodging shall be used in the following order of availability: (i) the lowest government or group rate, (ii) a rate not to exceed the Internal Revenue Service rate described in subsection (5) of this section.

(4) Transportation and travel costs shall not exceed the lowest government or group rate offered by the provider of such transportation or travel, provided a government or group rate is available to the member of the City Council at the time of booking. If no government or group rate is available, transportation or travel costs shall be reimbursed at a rate not to exceed the Internal Revenue Service rate described in subsection (5) of this section.

(5) Except as otherwise set forth in this section, expenses shall only be reimbursed at rates equal to or less than Internal Revenue Service rates for reimbursement of travel, meals, lodging, and other actual and necessary expenses as established in Internal Revenue Service Publication 463, or any successor publication, when such rates apply.

(6) Members of the City Council shall not be reimbursed for expenses incurred for the purchase of products containing alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco nor for expenses incurred due to a spouse or other person's accompaniment or participation in transportation or travel. This section shall not be interpreted as preventing the reimbursement of lodging, transportation, or travel costs at rates compliant with subsections (3) and (4) of this section, provided such rates are not increased as a result of more than single occupancy.

(7) The City Manager and City Treasurer may pay reimbursements to members of the City Council provided such reimbursements comply with this section. The City Manager may refer any reimbursement request to the City Council for a compliance determination.

(Ord. No. 26-01, § 4(Exh. A), 2-18-2026)