COW 2018-10-22 Item 4F - Resolution - 2019 Business License Fee Schedule

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Finance Committee Minutes October 16, 2018 C. Ordinance: Business License Fees Staff is seeking Council approval of a resolution that would increase the business license fee from $70 to $112 per full time employee and from $35 to $56 per part time employee, resulting in a revenue increase of $1.5 million. The City is facing a budget shortfall due to flattening sales tax and the loss of streamlined sales tax mitigation payments. The Mayor's proposed budget includes $1.8 million in departmental reductions and additional revenues in the form of increases to gambling tax and business license fees. The proposed resolution adopts a revised business license fee schedule, changes outside contractors to a flat fee of $100, and will remove reference to the archaic "panoram" category. Committee members discussed the proposal for contractors based outside of Tukwila and decided the flat rate should be evaluated after one year. Councilmember Kruller asked for rates for neighboring jurisdictions including whether they have B&O tax. Chair Quinn stressed the importance of ongoing communication with the business community, with consistent and clear messaging around why the City is considering this change. Staff has already conducted business outreach and is working on a communications plan in the event of Council passage. NO RECOMMENDATION. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 22, 2018 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. D. Resolution: Employee Compensation Policy Staff presented the draft resolution incorporating feedback given in previous Committee meetings, which containing policy items relating to timeliness, comparability, market ranking, and internal equity. Committee members discussed the current proposal and requested the following changes: • Amend B(1): "A second criteria to be used to refine comparable jurisdictions is to only include cities with their own police department." • Amend sentence at end of B(4:) "Administration will provide a written justification documenting that an adjustment is warranted for the City Council's review and approval prior to implementation." • Amend sentence at end of B(5): "Administration will provide a written justification documenting that an adjustment is warranted for the City Council's review and approval prior to implementation." Councilmember Robertson stated that he believes 10% above is too high for market competitiveness. The City should be paying the average of current comparables. Chair Quinn and Councilmember Kruller noted that the policy revisions add more opportunities to review anomalies as well as overall review of the policy itself. MAJORITY RECOMMENDATION. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 22, 2018 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. E. Contract Amendment: Interim Human Resources Director Staff is seeking an amendment to Contract 18-132 with Prothman Company for an additional $40,000 to allow the interim Human Resources Director to remain through January. The City is initiating a search for a new HR Director and anticipates having someone begin in January. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 5, 2018 REGULAR CONSENT AGENDA. 161