PACIFIC GROVE – A petition to create a voter initiative amending the Pacific Grove City Charter is circulating, led by former councilman Luke Coletti and the advocacy group Transparent Pacific Grove.
According to a press release, Transparent Pacific Grove filed a notice of intent on Feb. 3 to circulate a petition to qualify a charter amendment for the Nov. 3 ballot. The proposed initiative would require voter approval before the mayor or city councilmembers could approve changes to their own compensation or receive city-paid benefits. The requirements would be written directly into the City Charter.
The petition stems from the attempt to raise the council’s stipend, which would have been the first pay increase in more than 20 years. Last year in May, the Pacific Grove City Council approved an ordinance increasing monthly stipends for councilmembers from $420 to $966 and for the mayor from $700 to $1,610. The ordinance took effect immediately and was approved.
In July, Coletti submitted a referendum petition challenging the ordinance. The Monterey County Registrar of Voters certified the petition with 1,178 valid signatures, exceeding the 10% threshold of registered voters required to qualify. Under state law, the filing of the petition automatically suspended the ordinance.
The council repealed the ordinance and has not brought the matter up again since.
The newly proposed initiative would amend the city charter to require voter approval for any future changes to mayor or council member compensation or benefits. According to the press release, the measure would also require public disclosure of fiscal impacts before any such proposal appears on the ballot and limit these decisions to regular general municipal elections.
Coletti previously argued the council should have placed the pay increase before voters, citing the city’s financial outlook. In earlier council meetings, staff reports showed a $55 million unfunded pension liability, rising insurance costs and projected budget deficits.
Under state law, cities with populations under 35,000 may increase council pay by up to 5% annually since the last adjustment. Pacific Grove used its charter authority to exceed that limitation and make the higher increase effective immediately in 2025.
If enough valid signatures are collected, the initiative would be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot.
