The Hood River City Council asked staff to prepare a resolution that would significantly increase the compensation for Council positions and the Mayor in the future as a way to reduce barriers to participation, attract qualified and diverse candidates to seek office, and make service on the Council financially feasible for more people.  Currently, Councilors receive $50 per month and the Mayor receives $100, and that has not changed for over 15 years.  The majority of Councilors agreed to place Council compensation at ten percent of the area median income, and 20 percent for the Mayor.  The changes would not go into effect until each position is up for re-election over the next two years, so the current panel would not see their compensation increase at this time.  Councilor Doug Stepina says this is about trying to diversify municipal government and remove barriers for the single parent that would need child care and the hourly employee that loses income to be involved.  When the resolution comes before Councilors at a future meeting, it will also include a stipend for technology, such as a tablet, to use for municipal business.