Back in November, Flagstaff voted for a measure that would eventually raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. Now, the City Council has taken the first step toward making that increase more gradual. 

The law calls for Flagstaff to first raise its minimum wage to $12 an hour this July, and eventually get to $15 an hour by 2021. But the City Council has voted to knock this initial increase down to $10.50. A final vote on the amendment will be held March 21.

The council is able to amend the voter-approved initiative because it has a supermajority.

A spokesperson with the city says the proposal to modify the law came after public feedback saying the wage increase was too rapid.

During a packed meeting last month, the City Council decided against holding a special election on the controversial minimum-wage law, and instead will take the issue back to the voters during the next general election in 2018.