Palo Alto Approves Raises for Top City Officials
Council granted 3% to 9% raises to its city manager, city attorney and city clerk, retroactive to July 1.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in People
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The Palo Alto City Council approved raises for City Manager Ed Shikada, City Attorney Chris Jensen and City Clerk Mahealani Ah Yun. Shikada and Jensen each received a 3% increase and Ah Yun received 9%, with the raises retroactive to July 1.
Why it matters
The raises will cost the city $56,000 altogether, not including long-term retirement costs. The decision sets compensation for the officials who appoint and manage most city employees.
The approved raises total $56,000 in cost to the city, with Shikada at $448,593 and Jensen at $391,414 plus benefits. Long-term retirement cost impacts have not been quantified.
The players
Palo Alto City Council
The elected body of Palo Alto that appoints the city manager, city attorney, city clerk and city auditor.
Ed Shikada
Palo Alto's city manager, who hires and manages most city employees.
Chris Jensen
Palo Alto's city attorney, hired in April, who manages the employees in his department.
Dan Rich
A facilitator who previously served as Mountain View's city manager from 2011 to 2019.
The details
Council evaluated the employees in closed session with facilitator Dan Rich before approving the increases. Council will consider approving the new contracts on Monday.
Timeline
July 1: Raises become retroactive to this date.
April: Jensen was hired as city attorney.
2011 to 2019: Dan Rich served as Mountain View city manager.
Monday: Council will consider approving the new contracts.
Market Landscape
The four council-appointed officials, including City Auditor Kate Murdock, are the top appointed positions in Palo Alto's municipal structure. Their compensation sets the benchmark for city leadership pay in the city.
Palo Alto taxpayers will absorb the $56,000 cost of the raises, which apply retroactively to July 1. The decision affects the city's budget and the compensation of the officials who manage city operations.
The takeaway
Local government compensation decisions often reach residents through budgets and retirement obligations that extend beyond the initial raise amount. Watching the Monday council agenda will show whether the contracts are finalized.
What happens next
Council will consider approving the new contracts on Monday.
Further reading
For more on compensation decisions involving local leaders, see People coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Palo Alto Daily Post.
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