Beginning in January, volunteers who serve on city advisory boards in Santa Cruz will be paid a stipend of $75 per meeting.
The Santa Cruz City Council approved the new program on Tuesday. According to a release from the city, it “aims to foster greater diversity and representation in City decision-making processes” among “historically underrepresented groups, including LatinX community members and renters.”
The stipend will be open to all advisory board members, who can choose to opt in or decline the payment.
“The Stipend Program is an important step towards ensuring that our advisory bodies reflect the diverse perspectives of our community,” said Mayor Fred Keeley. “We recognize that financial barriers can prevent some residents from fully participating in these important roles, and this initiative is designed to help address that.”
The proposal is an outgrowth of the “A City Like Me: Santa Cruz” report, which highlighted the need for more diverse representation on city boards, committees and commissions.
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