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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoards & Commissions - Independent Salary Commission - 02/22/2024 (2) Independent Salary Commission Agenda Board Members: Julie Miller Patrick Hanis • Todd Minor KEN T Secretary, Kimberley Komoto, City Clerk WASH I N G 7 O N February 22, 2024 5:30 p.m. City of Kent Centennial North and South 400 West Gowe Street Kent, Washington 98032 Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 254 124 604 041 Passcode: eu7cNu Or call in (audio only) +1 872-239-8456„347790781# Item Description Action Speaker 1. Call to order Chair 2. Roll Call Chair 3. Election of Chair and Vice Chair YES 4. Introduction of Salary Review Process NO Tammy White 5. Deliberate and Adopt Proposed Salary Schedule NO Paula Painter - Adopt and Submit for Public Comment 6. Review of Comparable Salaries and Deliberation Yes Chair on Preliminary Salary Schedule 7. Next Commission Meeting Date All 8. Adjournment Chair The Public may submit written public comments that related to the commission agenda items by emailing to Cityclerk@kentwa.gov by 9 a.m. on the day of the commission meeting. After 9 a.m., written public comments may only be submitted in person by presenting them to the commission secretary at the public meeting. Written public comments that do not relate to a commission agenda item are not permitted. Written public comments are not read into the record. Unless otherwise noted, the Independent Salary Commission shall meet at least once each year, no later than April 30t" For additional information, please contact Kimberley A. Komoto at 253-856-5728 or via email at Kkomoto@KentWA.gov. Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk's Office at 253-856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service call Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at 7-1-1. Item 3. TO: Independent Salary Commission FROM: Tammy White, City Attorney DATE: February 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Nomination and Election of Chair and Vice-Chair MOTION: I move to elect to the position of Chair of the Independent Salary Commission for a one-year term. I move to elect to the position of Vice-Chair of the Independent Salary Commission for a one-year term. SUMMARY: KCC 2.50.090 provides that each appointive commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair and vice chair. The current appointments end February 2024. The Commission will need to discuss volunteers and nominations for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair. EXHIBITS: None. BUDGET IMPACTS: None. Item 4. TO: Independent Salary Commission FROM: Tammy White, City Attorney DATE: February 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Introduction of Salary Review Process INFORMATION ONLY SUMMARY: In accordance with KCC 2.65.040, the Independent Salary Commission is to meet at least once per year, no later than April 30t" in any given year, to review existing salaries for the City Council and Mayor and evaluate whether to adjust those salaries. However, before any change may be made to existing salaries, the Salary Commission is required to provide an opportunity for the residents of the City to comment on the proposed salary schedule, either orally at a meeting of the Salary Commission or in writing. After the Salary Commission receives information from the City's Finance Director, the Commission will evaluate that information and determine whether any adjustments to the salaries of the City Council and Mayor are appropriate. If the Commission determines adjustments are warranted, a proposed salary schedule will be prepared and that proposal will be made available for public comment at the Salary Commission's next meeting. Then, following receipt of public comment, the Commission will deliberate and adopt a final salary schedule. EXHIBITS: None. BUDGET IMPACTS: None. Item 5. TO: Independent Salary Commission FROM: Tammy White, City Attorney DATE: February 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Deliberation and Adoption of Proposed Salary Schedule - Adopt and Submit for Public Comment MOTION: I move to adopt the proposed salary schedule for the positions of Mayor, Council President, and City Council, and to submit the proposed schedule for public comment at the Commission's next meeting. SUMMARY: The Commission will evaluate the current salaries established for the positions of Mayor, Council President, and members of the City Council; will consider the salaries paid for comparable positions in other similar cities; and will discuss and evaluate any adjustments that they believe may be warranted to the salary for each position. Once the Commission has deliberated and determined any proposed changes they wish to make, it is recommended that the Commission adopt a proposed salary schedule and submit it for public comment at its next meeting. EXHIBITS: 2023 Salary Schedule; blank 2024 Salary Schedule BUDGET IMPACTS: None. City of Kent Independent Salary Commission FINAL 2023 SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE POSITIONS OF: MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, & MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL In accordance with Chapter 2.65 of the Kent City Code, the Independent Salary Commission for the City of Kent sets the following salary schedule for the positions of Mayor, Council President, and members of the City Council. MAYOR • Monthly salary of $16,500, effective January 1, 2023. • A cost of living adjustment (COLA) equal to 2.5%, effective January 1, 2024, and on January 1 of each subsequent year, unless amended by the Salary Commission. COUNCIL PRESIDENT • Monthly salary equal to the monthly salary for members of City Council, plus an additional 15% of that amount, effective as of January 1, 2023. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL • Monthly salary of $3,000, effective as of January 1, 2023. Comments from the Salary Commission: Public service is incredibly important to the success of Kent. We understand this salary schedule includes a large salary increase. However, it is the desire of the Commission that salary not be a reason a candidate chooses not to serve their city. i Kent is one of the most diverse cities in the state and yet its candidate pool for public office has not been as diverse. The majority of Kent's comparable cities are lower in population, employee count, and budget than Kent. It is our hope that by offering a competitive salary, more community members will be interested in public office and the diversity of our elected officials will continue to increase, and that once in the role, they will be fully committed to their position and serving Kent. There are so many facets to making this community work, and we need our elected officials to put in the time and effort to be informed. We are working to catch up for City of Kent Independent Salary Commission Page I 1 2023 FINAL SALARY SCHEDULE FOR POSITIONS OF MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL past adjustments that have not kept up with inflation, and we're also recognizing the work that is required of the position to be informed and successful for Kent. These are important roles and this is now a competitive salary. It is important to the Commission that the public understand that there is no tax implication associated with these salary increases. Additionally, the Commission has elected to remove the 2.5% cost of living adjustment that was previously proposed for members of the City Council and the Council President. The Commission will continue to meet annually to evaluate and consider the salaries for these positions. Once adopted, the City Clerk will publish this final schedule two times, each publication at least one week apart. The second publication will then be the official filing date, and the salary schedule will become effective 30 days after the filing date, unless a referendum is timely filed. This final salary schedule is adopted this 13th day of March, 2023. INDEPENDENT SALARY COMMISSION Julie ler, Chair Pat Hanis, Vice Chair Todd Minor, Commissioner ATTEST: Kim Komoto, City Clerk F E F City of Kent Independent Salary Commission P a g e 1 2 2023 FINAL SALARY SCHEDULE FOR POSITIONS OF MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL City of Kent Independent Salary Commission PROPOSED 2024 SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THE POSITIONS OF: MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, & MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL In accordance with Chapter 2.65 of the Kent City Code, the Independent Salary Commission for the City of Kent proposes to set the following salary schedule for the positions of Mayor, Council President, and members of the City Council. MAYOR • Monthly salary of $ , effective January 1, 2024. • A cost of living adjustment (COLA) equal to % effective January 1, 2025, and on January 1 of each subsequent year, unless amended by the Salary Commission. COUNCIL PRESIDENT • Monthly salary equal to the monthly salary for members of City Council, plus an additional % of that amount, effective as of January 1, 2024. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL • Monthly salary of $ , effective as of January 1, 2024. • A cost of living adjustment (COLA) equal to , effective January 1, 2025, and on January 1 of each subsequent year, unless amended by the Salary Commission. These proposed salaries are submitted for public comment. Any member of the public who wishes to comment upon these proposed salaries is invited to attend the next meeting of the Independent Salary Commission on , 2024 at a.m./p.m., at Centennial North and Centennial South, 400 West Gowe Street, Kent, WA 98032. At that meeting, the Commission will solicit and consider public comment on the Commission's proposed salary schedule, discuss whether any change to that proposed schedule is warranted, and will then adopt the final salary schedule. Once the final salary schedule is adopted, the City Clerk will publish the final schedule two times, each publication at least one week apart. The second publication will then be the official filing date, City of Kent Independent Salary Commission P a g e l 2024 PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR POSITIONS OF MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL and the salary schedule will become effective 30 days after the filing date, unless a referendum is timely filed. This proposed salary schedule is submitted for public comment this 22nd day of February, 2024. INDEPENDENT SALARY COMMISSIONERS Chair Vice Chair Commissioner ATTEST: Kim Komoto, City Clerk City of Kent Independent Salary Commission P a g e 1 2 2024 PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR POSITIONS OF MAYOR, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL Item 7. TO: Independent Salary Commission FROM: Tammy White, City Attorney DATE: February 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Next Commission Meeting - Set Date and Publish Notice MOTION: I move to set the Commission's next meeting for 12024, and direct the City Clerk to give public notice of that special meeting date. SUMMARY: The Commission will discuss and set its next meeting date where it will solicit public comment on its proposed salary schedule for the positions of Mayor, Council President, and members of the City Council. EXHIBITS: None. BUDGET IMPACTS: None.