LIVING WAGE COALITION IN THE NEWS

Santa Rosa Press Democrat
November 19, 2003

Council Backs Living Wage
Law would set $13.20 minimum for city workers

By Lori A. Carter

Sebastopol tentatively approved a living-wage ordinance Tuesday, becoming the first Sonoma County city to mandate higher pay scales for public employees and some private contractors.

"It's everything we wanted," said Marty Bennett, a co-founder of the Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County.

Bennett said the group hopes other North Bay cities will follow Sebastopol's lead.

On a 4-0 vote with one member absent, the City Council tentatively approved the ordinance to hoots of support, applause and a standing ovation from an overflow crowd of about 80 people.

The ordinance must come back for a final vote before taking effect, probably sometime early next year.

It establishes a minimum wage of $13.20 an hour for city workers and employees of some private contractors who don't receive health insurance, and a lesser amount tied to the cost of benefits for workers who get health benefits.

"This is the right thing to do. It's time for a living wage now," said Mayor Craig Litwin, echoing a phrase coalition members wore on bright yellow buttons.

In addition to city employees, the ordinance covers private contractors who receive more than $10,000 from the city, nonprofit groups that receive more than $20,000, and recipients of city grants or loans exceeding $100,000.

City Manager Dave Brennan said it would affect only six Sebastopol
employees: four crossing guards, an employee who videotapes City Council meetings and a temporary seasonal laborer position. No contractors currently meet the pay rate thresholds.

Brennan's analysis shows the measure would cost the city about $10,500 annually.

A revised Living Wage Coalition analysis estimated it would cost Sebastopol as much as $21,800 for as many as 12 potentially affected positions.

For the past two years, coalition members have been lobbying North Bay cities to enact minimum pay standards, arguing that it would set an example for private employers and bump up the incomes of lower-level wage earners in one of the state's most expensive areas.

Throughout the country, 112 other cities have enacted living wage laws.

In 2001, the Santa Rosa City Council rejected proposed minimums of $16.75 an hour without benefits or $15 with health insurance. No other Sonoma County city has voted on a living wage proposal.

But with Sebastopol's tentative approval, Bennett said the coalition would approach the Sonoma and Petaluma city councils within the next few months and also probably return to Santa Rosa with another proposal.

Critics argue that a mandated wage is an unreasonable burden on municipalities and private businesses, and that it would increase labor costs by compelling other lower-wage earners to seek increases.

"Exactly. That's the whole point," Councilman Larry Robinson said to applause.

Though Brennan recommended postponing action on the ordinance until next year's budget picture becomes clearer, council members instead took the advice of supporters in the audience who urged action now.

"There is never the perfect moment for a bold initiative of social policy," said Sebastopol resident David Walls. "This is an important precedent."

You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 521-5205 or lcarter@pressdemocrat.com.


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LIVING WAGE COALITION OF SONOMA COUNTY
Phone: 707-623-7395
Email: livingwagesoco@gmail.com
PO Box 427
Santa Rosa, CA 95402