Chapter 2.74
SALARY COMMISSION
Sections:
2.74.010 Created – Membership, appointment, compensation, term.
2.74.040 Mission and responsibilities.
2.74.060 Meetings, officers, records and quorum.
2.74.010 Created – Membership, appointment, compensation, term.
A. There is created a salary commission for the city. The commission shall consist of seven members, and the appointments and confirmations of those members shall be governed by Chapter 2.01 BIMC.
B. A member of the commission shall serve until either: the commission completes its salary review and files a salary schedule with the city clerk; or the commission issues a final determination that no salary adjustment is appropriate.
C. Beginning in 2020, a salary commission shall be appointed and shall begin a new salary review as provided herein. Every seven years thereafter, a new salary commission shall be appointed to perform a new salary review in accordance with this chapter.
D. No member of the commission shall be appointed to more than two terms.
E. A member of the commission shall not be an officer, official, or employee of the city or an immediate family member of an officer, official, or employee of the city. For purposes of this section, “immediate family member” means the parents, spouse, siblings, children, or dependent relatives of an officer, official, or employee of the city, whether or not living in the household of the officer, official, or employee.
F. A member of the commission shall not be appointed to another city committee, board or commission, except for specialized committees or task forces of limited duration.
G. Members shall serve without compensation.
H. Members shall sign a conflict of interest statement in accordance with the city’s ethics program upon appointment and any reappointment. (Ord. 2021-16 § 14, 2021; Ord. 2020-27 §§ 1, 2, 2020; Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
2.74.020 Vacancies.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of the commissioner, the mayor shall appoint, subject to approval of the city council, a person to serve the unexpired portion of the term of the vacant position in accordance with the city’s appointment cycle. (Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
2.74.030 Removal.
A member of the commission shall only be removed from office for cause of incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, or for a disqualifying change of residence. (Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
2.74.040 Mission and responsibilities.
A. Beginning in 2020, and every seven years thereafter, the commission shall have the duty to review the salaries paid by the city to each elected city official. The commission shall complete its review within 120 days of the first meeting of the commission. The city council may approve a request from the commission for an extension of the 120-day review period.
B. If after such review the commission determines that the salary paid to any elected city official should be increased or decreased, the commission shall file a written salary schedule with the city clerk indicating the increase or decrease in salary.
C. Any increase or decrease in salary established by the commission shall become effective and incorporated into the city budget without further action of the city council or the commission.
D. Salary increases established by the commission shall be effective as to all city elected officials, regardless of their terms of office.
E. Salary decreases established by the commission shall become effective as to incumbent city elected officials at the commencement of their next subsequent terms of office.
F. If after review the commission determines that the salary paid to any elected city official should not be increased or decreased, then the commission shall file a written determination with the city clerk indicating that no salary adjustment is appropriate. (Ord. 2020-27 § 3, 2020; Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
2.74.050 Referendum.
Any salary increase or decrease established by the commission pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to referendum petition by the voters of the city, in the same manner as a city ordinance, upon filing of a referendum petition with the city clerk within 30 days after filing of a salary schedule by the commission. In the event of the filing of a valid referendum petition, the salary increase or decrease shall not go into effect until approved by a vote of the people. Referendum measures under this section shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next following general or municipal election occurring 30 days or more after the petition is filed, and shall otherwise be governed by the provisions of the State Constitution and the laws generally applicable to referendum measures. (Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)
2.74.060 Meetings, officers, records and quorum.
A. The committee may meet as necessary during the 120-day review period described in BIMC 2.74.040.A, but shall establish a regular meeting schedule and announce the specific day and time each month that the committee will conduct its regular meetings during the review period. Meetings shall be open to the public and held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act (Chapter 42.30 RCW).
B. Beginning in 2020, and every seven years thereafter that a new commission is appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council, the commission, at its first regular meeting, shall select from among its members a chairperson and a secretary.
C. Minutes of each meeting, including a record of attendance, shall be prepared by the secretary and approved by the commission and signed by the chairperson at a subsequent meeting. The minutes do not need to reflect the actual discussion, but only the formal actions taken by the commission. The approved meeting minutes shall be posted on the city’s website.
D. The city shall provide city email accounts to voting members and related training on the use of email accounts, including personal computer privacy expectations while serving on the commission.
E. A majority of the voting members then serving on the commission shall constitute a quorum. (Ord. 2020-27 § 4, 2020; Ord. 2019-23 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019)