HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2013-09-17 Item 2B - Ordinance - Council CompensationTO:
City of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Mayor Haggerton
Finance and Safety Committee
FROM: Dennis Robertson, Finance and Safety Committee Chair
DATE: September 10, 2013
SUBJECT: Ordinance on Council Compensation
ISSUE
Council compensation has not changed since Ordinance 2023 passed in 2003. It is time to
consider changes to both compensation and medical expense reimbursement for Council
members.
BACKGROUND
Basic Council compensation was set at $1,050 /month starting in 2005. It has not changed since.
The other elected official in the City of Tukwila, the Mayor, has had his compensation increased
by approximately 22% since 2005. Council medical reimbursement was set in 2003 as
$3,400 /year which was equal to that of a single employee. It has not changed since. Currently,
the cost of a single employee's medical expenses is approximately $5,032 /year.
In previous ordinances, Council members were given the choice of two benefit options. The first
is reimbursement not to exceed the annual cost of medical insurance for a single employee. The
second option was to join the City's self- insured medical and dental plan which is offered to non -
represented employees. Both options were intended to cover only the Council member, not the
Council member's family members. However, there is information coming to light that indicates
the City may not be able to offer a choice to Council members because of new state and federal
laws. This issue is currently being reviewed by the Administration and if those findings are ready
to be discussed at the October 8 Finance and Safety meeting, a single ordinance including both
compensation and benefit choices for Council members may be presented to the entire Council.
If the Administration is not ready, then the ordinance will be drafted to omit the reference to
benefit choices and only the cash option will be taken forward this year. The issue of providing
benefit options will be taken up separately at a future date.
DISCUSSION
Committee members will review and discuss a proposal to increase Council compensation by
22% per year and Council medical expense reimbursement to $5,032 /year. The issue of Council
medical coverage is being researched by the Administration and results may be presented at
the Finance and Safety Committee's October 8th meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
Review of a draft ordinance that would repeal the current ordinance 2357 and establish new
compensation levels. If the Committee recommends Council implementation of such an
ordinance, the item will be forwarded to the October 8th Committee meeting for discussion of the
issue associated with multiple medical expense options. After that a complete ordinance will be
forwarded to Committee of the Whole on October 14 for full Council discussion and a motion to
approve.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Council compensation ordinance.
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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON; AMENDING TUKWILA
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.05.010 TO FIX THE AMOUNT
OF COMPENSATION FOR COUNCILMEMBERS THROUGH
2017; ESTABLISHING TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 2.05.020 "COUNCIL BENEFITS"; REPEALING
ORDINANCE NO. 2357; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Whereas, Ordinance No. 2023 set basic Council compensation levels for the years 2003 and
on; and
Whereas, Ordinance No 2023 set Council reimbursement for medical expenses for the year
2003 and on, and
Whereas, Councilmembers have not receivedi4 an increase in compensation or medical expense
reimbursement since 2005 as set by Ordinance and
Whereas, the City Council recognizes that the current economy warrants compensation and
medical expense reimbursement higher than that set and
Whereas, state law requires that council members must be re-elected to receive an increase
they voted on; and
Whereas, the City of
received compensation increas
yor, the other elected official in the jCity of Tukwila, has
ce 2005 approximating 22%, and
Whereas, medical expense,reimbultement for council members was set in 2003 to
approximate the cost of m14101;j:**; for one employee which has increased by
approximately by 48% since 2003
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 2.05 of the Tukwila Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
2.05.010 Council Compensation
A. Monthly compensation levels. Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 35A.12.070
members of the Tukwila City Council shall receive the following monthly compensation during
the years listed here according to their position and the date their term of office commences:
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POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, 7
POSITIONS 2, 4, 6
YEAR
1/1/10 — 12/31/13
(current term of office)
and 1/1/14 — 12/31/17
1/1/12 — 12/31/15
(current term of office)
and 1/1/16 — 12/31/19
2014
$1,281/month
$1,050/month
2015
$1,281/month
$1,050/month
2016
2017
$1,281/month
$1,281/month
$1,281/month
$1,281/month
POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, 7
POSITIO
2012
and111/12 12/31/15
$1,050/month
ggir
$1,050/month
Namentra
0:02:45.4%
*$1,050/month 1511,„
qint,
tisk
$1,050/month
$1,0501month
$1,050/month
B. Compensatiorgw. At any ime the Tukwila Council compensation rate of increases or
medical expense reimbursement falls significantly below that accorded to the Tukwila City
Mayor, thc mean of the other ' Iley Communication cities, Tukwila will review the stipends and
may increase either Counci 'Stipend accordingly its stipend to the level of those other cities.
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Section 2. TMC 2.05.020 Council Benefits is hereby established to read as follows:
Each member of the City Council, beginning January 1, 2014 shall be eligible for reimbursement
from the City for medical expenses for one year including pharmaceuticals, health care,
alternative health care, dental, and vision costs; and health and life insurance premiums shall be
authorized up to the following limits (which approximates the cost of insurance for one
employee) during the years listed here, according to Council Member position and date their
term of office commences:
POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, 7
POSITIONS 2, 4, 6
YEAR
1/1/10 — 12/31/13
(current term of offic
and 1/1/14 — 12/31
1/1/12 — 12/31/15
(current term of office)
and 1/1/16 — 12/31/19
2014
$5,032/year
2015
2016
2017
$5,032/year
$5,032/year
$5,032/year
$3,400/year
$3,400/year
$5,032/year
$5,032/year
Reimbursements shall be made only upon presentation to the Finance Director of a receipt or
other evidence that the expense was actually incurred.
Section 3. Repealer. Ordinance No. 2357 "ereby repealed.
Section 4. Severability. If any sacirC:ni:subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this ordinance or its application to any parson or situation should be held to be invalid or
unconstitutional for any reason by a court competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this
ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published in the
official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days after passage
and publication as provided by law.
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