Gridley City Administrator Elisa Arteaga, whose contract was updated March 16 to include a salary increase following a performance review. Courtesy photo

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley City Council on March 16 approved a pay raise for City Manager Elisa Arteaga, adopting an amended employment agreement following a recent performance review.

The salary increase passed on a 4‑1 vote without comment from the council or public. Vice Mayor Bruce Johnson was the lone dissent.

Under the updated contract, Arteaga’s base salary increases to $242,069 annually, or $20,172.44 per month, effective immediately. The new figure is a $63,032 increase over the $179,037 salary Gridley reported to the State Controller’s Office for 2024, a jump of roughly 35 percent.

Deputy City Attorney Landon Little said the salary change followed a formal evaluation of her work in February and labor negotiations informed by a recent regional income survey.

“The wage study from the summer of 2025 demonstrated that the city administrator was less than her peers in local jurisdictions,” Little said.

Little said Arteaga’s salary lagged behind nearby cities, including Orland, Willows and Live Oak, which helped guide the recommended adjustment.

Arteaga replaced City Administrator Cliff Wagner in late 2023, ascending from the city’s finance department, where she worked for 20 years.

The amended contract keeps Arteaga in her at‑will role serving at the pleasure of the council and outlines her responsibilities as Gridley’s chief administrative officer, overseeing key operational and planning efforts for the city. She is responsible for implementing council policy, directing department heads, overseeing city personnel and managing daily operations. Arteaga also prepares the city budget, monitors financial conditions, coordinates public works and infrastructure projects and serves as the primary liaison between the council, staff and the community.

In addition to the salary adjustment, the council approved an agreement that provides an approximate $50,000 benefit package including a 7 percent retirement contribution through the Public Employees’ Retirement System, city‑paid health, dental and vision coverage, administrative leave and professional development support. The city also provides a vehicle for official use and a monthly cell phone allowance not to exceed $75. A severance provision offers three months of salary if Arteaga is terminated without cause.

Under the contract, Arteaga’s work performance will continue to be evaluated annually, with consideration of merit‑based salary adjustments.