PACIFIC GROVE >> An ordinance granting the Pacific Grove City Council members their first pay raise in more than 25 years has been suspended after a referendum petition was filed.

Former council member Luke Coletti formally submitted the petition to challenge Ordinance 25-007 on July 1, which would increase monthly compensation for the mayor from $700 to $1,610 and for city councilmembers from $420 to $966. The Monterey County Registrar of Voters is now reviewing the signatures to verify whether the petition meets the 10 percent threshold of registered voters needed to place the matter on the ballot.

City Manager Matthew Mogensen confirmed that the filing of the petition immediately suspended the ordinance under state law.

“The Registrar of Voters is currently reviewing the signatures filed for the referendum,” Mogensen said in an email. “They have 30 days to verify signatures. The filing of the petition on July 1 suspended the ordinance at this point.”

Coletti, who now leads the advocacy group Transparent Pacific Grove, argues the council should have submitted the salary increase to voters, especially given the city’s financial outlook. At an April meeting, the council was presented with a report showing a $55 million unfunded pension liability, rising insurance costs, and projected budget deficits.

The pay raise was approved by the City Council on May 21 without voter input. State law allows city council pay to be increased by up to 5 percent annually since the last raise in cities with a population of less than 35,000.

The referendum criticizes the move as self-serving and poorly timed and claims the city used its authority to bypass the standard state limitation that prevents raises from taking effect until after the next election.

If the petition signatures are validated, the referendum will place the salary ordinance on a future ballot, giving voters the final say.