Pigs at the public trough.

It’s unclear to me why anyone believes a job in the public sector is akin to a vow of poverty. Smdh

If they didn't shout from the treetops that going into the government sector is "public service", then maybe people wouldn't complain.

I personally hold a low opinion of government positions. They are bureaucratic exercises which make life harder for the rest of us, but they do pay very well. You'd be silly not to take a job that pays so well and has great benefits. It's harder for private industry to pay so well because that money has to come out of profits, which come from providing goods and services. Government simply tells us to pay more or they'll take away our house or income or freedom.

Thanks to our city staff who work their butts off for us. Everyone deserves a fair raise for fair work. :)

Why were two council members absent? Are they on a world tour at city expense?

I don't understand:

When the City Attorney forced Intervenors to act on the legal rights of the Citizens of Mountain View regarding the CAA challenge to Measure V, was this conduct warranting a pay raise?

In fact all it did is it cost the City more money because the case was eventually lost by the Challengers and the intervenors were entitled to legal costs becasue it was a frivolous action.

The City was lucky it did not have to pay the intevenors legal fees.

NO this demonstrated that the City Attorney simply did not rperesent the City Citizens, only the City Government and It's interests.

Maybe a City Charter Amemdment should be sought to force the City Attorney to always represent the City of Mountain View Citizens, and where there is is a conflict between the City Government and the City Citizens, the City Attorney shall be prohibited to represent the City Government, ONLY THE CITY CITIZENS.

Great Pay city employees more but our quality of life gets worse . Your tax dollars are being used for programs that add no value and only make our quality of life worse not better . City Council is out of touch with the issues our city faces .

Wow I'm in the wrong profession.

What did the rank and file get?
How much did they raise the cost of services(Water, Sewer, Garbage).
As a percentage...

If I had a kid graduating college I would highly recommend they get a white collar job in government; city, county, state, or Fed. These people make at least as much as their counterparts in private sector and then can retire with a fat pension in their 50's (even more if they wait until FRA). And after that many double dip (very typical of law enforcement), take the pension then get a similar position with another city/county. And I believe healthcare is thrown in or very deeply subsidized. In addition there does not seem to be any accountability. Example, been waiting over two years for lights at crosswalks (approved a year ago). Public Works in Mountain View move at a snails pace, but curiously huge commerical developments and apartments spring up all over the city, no delays for them.

I feel these salaries are simply ridiculous. I am not pleased that are city taxes end up in these people that I don’t think deserve these salaries. How do you justify a raise for a $300,000 salary? What kind of job do they do to deserve these salaries?

@Jessica - When a resident submits a request to the city and that request is approved, the City needs to provide firm delivery date, work needs to be done in a timely manner without the resident calling every month for status. It really is unacceptable.

Totally unearned and unnecessary raises. Most of these people could not manage their way out of a paper bag! There are too many layers and not enough accountability.
Meanwhile, all taxes, fees and fines go up with no commensurate increase in value.

If the MV City Manager is reading this: please do your job and manage city employees well to earn your pay! Why a city worker feels no obligation to return email or call for a question that is their job to respond to?! Where is the accountability?

@T,

Cut ‘them a little slack, it was a Friday before a holiday weekend....and you expected someone would return your phone call? Good luck.

I don’t doubt that someone will get back to you next week...sometime, when the question regarding, say the granting of a weekend construction permit to allow work a holiday weekend becomes moot.

Super efficient people down at city hall. Responsive and caring. Yup.