HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 26622-12-2023ORDINANCE NO.26622-12-2023
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING PAY RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGES ANDREW T. BRADSHAW, RAQUEL D. BROWN, MELANIE A. HOUSTON,
THADDEUS A. IWUJI, CARLA KELMAN, CLAUDIA A. MARTINEZ, ROBERT NEEL
MCDONALD, PATRICIA L. SUMMERS AND DEPUTY CHIEF JUDGE SIMON C.
GONZALEZ; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, Section 30.00006(h) of the Texas Government Code provides that the governing
body of the municipality shall determine the salary of the municipal judges;
WHEREAS, Section 10-2 of the City Code states that the Ad Hoc Municipal Court Advisory
Committee shall make recommendations to the city council on all matters relating to the municipal court
judges; and
WHEREAS, the Human Resource Classification and Compensation division recommended that
the Municipal Judges and Deputy Chief Judge listed below receive an I I % pay rate adjustment for Fiscal
Year 2024, effective November 18, 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
That Municipal Judges Andrew T. Bradshaw, Raquel D. Brown, Melanie A. Houston, Thaddeus A. Iwuji,
Carla Kelman, Claudia A. Martinez, Robert Neel McDonald, Patricia L. Summers, Deputy Chief Judge
Simon C. Gonzalez, receive an 11% pay rate adjustment for Fiscal Year 2024—effective November
18, 2023—with a new pay rate set at $58.28 per hour for Fiscal Year 2024 for Municipal Judge Carla
Kelman, a new pay rate set at $62.83 per hour for Fiscal Year 2024 for Municipal Judges Melanie
Houston and Thaddeus Iwuji; a new pay rate set at $70.97 per hour for Fiscal Year 2024 for Municipal
Judges Patricia Summers and Raquel Brown; a new pay rate set at $74.01 per hour for Fiscal Year 2024
for Municipal Judges R. Neel McDonald, Andrew Bradshaw and Claudia Martinez; a new pay rate set at
$76.71 per hour for Fiscal Year 2024 for Deputy Chief Judge Simon Gonzalez.
SECTION 2.
1
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the City of
Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, except where provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict
with the provisions of such ordinances and Code, in which event such conflicting provisions of such
ordinances and Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence,
paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or unconstitutional by the valid
judgment or final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality
shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this
ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation herein
of any such void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 4.
The pay adjustments provided under this ordinance shall take effect November 18, 2023.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
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Andrea Phillips, Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED: December 12, 2023
EFFECTIVE: November 18, 2023
Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary
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City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 12/12/23 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 23-1068
LOG NAME: 38MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES PAY RATE ADJUSTMENT FY24
SUBJECT
(ALL) Ratify Pay Rate Adjustments for Eight Municipal Court Judges and Deputy Chief Judge Effective November 18, 2023 and Adopt Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council ratify pay rate adjustments for eight Municipal Court Judges and Deputy Chief Judge to be effective on
November 18, 2023 and adopt the attached ordinance.
DISCUSSION:
Chapter 30 of the Texas Government Code (the Uniform Municipal Courts of Record Act) sets out the requirements for appointment of judges and
the presiding judge for Municipal Courts of Record. Section 30.00006(b) of the Texas Government Code requires the governing body of a
municipality to appoint its Municipal Judges by ordinance. Section 30.00006(h) of the Texas Government Code requires the City Council to set the
salary for the Municipal Judges. Section 30.00007 of the Texas Government Code requires the governing body of the municipality to designate a
presiding judge if there is more than one Municipal Judge in the municipality. Section 10-3 of the City Code requires the City Council to designate
a Chief Judge with the duties of a presiding judge. The City Council is also authorized to designate a Deputy Chief Judge.
The Human Resources Classification and Compensation division recommend increases in the salaries for the Deputy Chief Municipal Judge, and
Municipal Judges by 11 % in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 effective November 18, 2023. The pay rate adjustments for the Deputy Chief Judge and eight
Municipal Judges are as follows:
1. An hourly rate of $58.28 for FY2024 for Municipal Judge Carla Kelman
2. An hourly rate of $62.83 for FY2024 for Municipal Judges Melanie Houston and Thaddeus Iwuji
3. An hourly rate of $70.97 for FY2024 for Municipal Judges Patricia Summers and Raquel Brown
4. An hourly rate of $74.01 in FY2024 for Municipal Judges R. Neel McDonald, Andrew Bradshaw and Claudia Martinez
5. An hourly rate of $76.71 in FY2024 for Deputy Chief Municipal Judge Simon Gonzalez
Funding is budgeted in the Regular Employee Salaries Account of the Municipal Court Judicial Department's General Fund. The amount paid is
based on hourly rate and hours worked. These pay rate adjustments will increase salaries and benefits expenses in the Municipal Court budget of
the General Fund. The FY2024 differences are $112,659 in Salaries, $28,660 in Retirement, and $1,634 in FICA totaling $142,952. The
department expects to be able to absorb the additional costs without a budget increase, and will seek to implement discretionary savings as
necessary.
This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that funds are available in the current operating budget, as previously appropriated, in the General Fund to
support the approval of the above recommendation and increases in pay rates. Prior to any expenditure being incurred, the Municipal Court
Department has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds.
Submitted for City Manager's Office W. Valerie Washington 6199
Originating Business Unit Head: William Rumuly 7461
Additional Information Contact: William Rumuly 7461
Expedited