The Pella City Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance increasing the compensation paid to the mayor and council at their meeting this evening. According to city staff, compensation amounts for elected officials in the City of Pella have not increased since 2008. Staff says unlike many moderate to large sized communities, the city council has direct oversight over most city utilities and functions. If approved after three readings, it would go into effect in January 2020. The current compensation of $7,200 annually for the mayor and $2,400 for councilmembers would be increased to $13,500 and $6,000 respectively, and then incrementally raised for the next four years eventually to $18,000 and $9,000 by 2023. Starting in 2024, an annual increase would be determined by the average increase in prices for the Midwest region, as established by the federal government’s consumer price index for the prior 12 months. The council will also consider approval of the fiscal year 2020 budget and a change order to Phase II of the Pella Sports Park. Their meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Public Safety Complex on Liberty Street.