COLD LAKE - City of Cold Lake council approved proposed amendments to the Council Compensation Policy during the Oct. 8 regular meeting.
The amendments, set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, include a variety of increases to council members' honorariums, per diems, and additional benefits. These changes were recommended by the Elected Official Compensation Review Committee and reviewed by the Corporate Priorities Committee on Sept. 17.
Kristy Isert, the Manager of Corporate Services for the City of Cold Lake noted that certain changes to mileage and meal allowances were addressed in a separate policy.
“Of note, the proposed or recommended changes to the mileage and the meal allowances are included within a separate policy and that's one of the human resource policies that's being brought forward to the CAO for that to be signed off and implemented.”
The amendments include a five per cent increase to the council honorarium, a 20 per cent increase to per diems (an additional $50 for meetings over eight hours, excluding social events), and a 10 per cent increase to meal reimbursements.
Additionally, the mileage reimbursement rate will see a 25 per cent increase.
Several new benefits were also proposed, including a $1,000 annual Health and Wellness Benefit, a $100 monthly vehicle allowance for business within the city, up to $250 for municipal-branded clothing, and up to $500 annually for partner tickets to events. Council members would also be eligible for a $200 per month childcare reimbursement and up to $500 annually for a driver reimbursement, according to information from the City of Cold Lake.
As council reviewed the proposed amendments, Coun. Vicki Lefebvre raised a question about childcare expenses. “In the summary, it said for ‘childcare’ expenses the amount could be reimbursed. But I thought it was childcare or if you have to go and you may be taking care of your spouse - or whatever - and you have to pay for that. I thought that was in there.”
Isert clarified that the policy had been expanded. “When the additional benefits were incorporated within the policy, following some discussion, it was expanded a little bit to call it ‘dependent care benefit’.”
The discussion also covered the health and wellness spending benefit, which would provide council members with an annual $1,000 for health-related expenses.
Coun. Bob Mattice asked if the benefit was administered through a third party.
CAO Kevin Nagoya responded, explaining that using a third party avoided the discomfort of internal administration. “Yes, third party, the City of Cold Lake used to do the health spending benefit internally. I can say that trying to do that sometimes has a sense of uncomfortability in that regard - some of the expenses being claimed sometimes can be pretty personal.”
Mayor Craig Copeland expressed his support for the changes, especially regarding how the policy may help those with the care of dependents.
“I think we're doing the right thing by bringing the pay up a bit. And especially for those that have kids, [encouraging them] to get into politics,” he said. “I think some of the numbers here are going to help at least defer some of that expense.”
Council made a motion to pass a resolution to amend the Council Compensation Policy, as recommended, which will result in the changes being implemented at the start of 2025.
