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Home My WebLink AboutFS 2013-10-08 Item 2C - Ordinance - Council CompensationCity of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Finance and Safety Committee FROM: Dennis Robertson, Finance and Safety Committee Chair DATE: September 23, 2013 SUBJECT: Ordinance relating to Council Compensation ISSUE The Committee will consider a proposed ordinance that would amend Tukwila Municipal Chapter 2.05 to increase the amount of monthly compensation from $1,050 to $1,250 per month. BACKGROUND The monthly stipend received by Councilmembers as compensation for performing their duties has remained the same since 2005, pursuant to an ordinance that was passed in 2001. Since 2005, the cost of living as measured by the Seattle- Tacoma - Bremerton Consumer Price Index has risen by 19.2 %. The Committee first discussed this issue on September 17, and in that meeting expressed interest in further review of a possible increase to the amount of compensation for Councilmembers based upon an increased time commitment required to perform Councilmember duties as well as the rise in the cost of living. DISCUSSION Committee members will review and discuss a proposal to increase Council compensation by 19 %, which is commensurate with the increase to the cost of living between 2005 and 2012. The ordinance does not propose automatic increases in the future, but instead includes language that the stipend may be reviewed by the Council if it again falls significantly behind the cost of living increase rate. The Committee also acknowledges that the time commitment involved in being a Tukwila City Councilmember has increased substantially in the years since the compensation rate was last increased. Attendance is required at numerous ongoing meetings and events, including: Regular Council Meetings (two per month), Committee of the Whole Council Meetings (two per month), and Committee meetings (four per month). Councilmembers also attend Council work sessions; individual Councilmember work sessions with City staff; community outreach events /Council Chats; review vouchers (4 times per year); regional association meetings; special issue task forces; trainings; and more. It is not unusual for a Councilmember to attend three or more formal meetings per week, each meeting often longer than two hours, with meeting preparation time averaging more than one hour per hour of meeting. RECOMMENDATION Review of the draft ordinance that would repeal the current Ordinance 2357 to establish new compensation levels. If the Committee recommends Council adoption of the draft ordinance, the item will be forwarded to the October 14 Committee of the Whole for full Council discussion. ATTACHMENTS Draft Council compensation ordinance. 25 26 AFT 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 FOR YEARS 2014 THROUGH 2017; REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2357; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2357 retained City Council compensation levels for the years 2012 through 2015, as previously carried over by Ordinance No. 2192 (adopted in 2007) and Ordinance No. 2023 (adopted in 2003); and WHEREAS, Councilmembers have not received an increase in compensation since 2005, as set by Ordinance No. 1956 in 2001; and WHEREAS, the cost of living as measured by the Seattle- Tacoma - Bremerton Consumer Price Index has risen by 19.2% since 2005; and WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the position of Councilmember has continued to evolve with ever - increasing duties and time requirements; and WHEREAS, RCW 35A.12.070 states that any increase in the compensation attaching to an office shall not be applicable to the term then being served by the incumbent if such incumbent is a member of the City legislative body fixing his or her own compensation; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. TMC Chapter 2.05 Amended. Chapter 2.05 of the Tukwila Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: W: Word Processing \Ordinances \Councilmember compensation strike -thru 9 -25 -13 LH:bjs Page 1 of 3 27 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: *New Council term commences on January 1. B. Compensation review. At any time the Tukwila City Council compensation rate of increase falls significantly below the cost of living increase as measured by the Seattle- Tacoma - Bremerton Consumer Price Index, the mean of the other Valley Communication cities, Tukwila will review the stipends and may increase the City Council stipend accordingly its stipend to the level of those other cities. Section 2. Repealer. Ordinance No. 2357 is hereby repealed. Section 3. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser. Upon approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and section /subsection numbering. Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of 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. W: Word Processing \Ordinances \Councilmember compensation strike -thru 9 -25 -13 LH:bjs 28 Page 2 of 3 POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, 7 POSITIONS 2, 4, 6 1/1/08 12/31 /11 1/1/10 — 12/31/13 1/1/12 — 12/31/15 YEAR (current term of office) (current term of office) and 1/1/14 — 12/31/17 and 1/1/12 12/31/15 1/1/16 — 12/31/19 2012 $1,0501,250 /month $1,050 /month 2014 2-013 $1,0501,250 /month $1,050 /month 2015 201 $1,050 1, 250 /month $1,050 1, 250 /month 2016 2015 $1,050 1,250 /month $1,050 1,250 /month 2017 *New Council term commences on January 1. B. Compensation review. At any time the Tukwila City Council compensation rate of increase falls significantly below the cost of living increase as measured by the Seattle- Tacoma - Bremerton Consumer Price Index, the mean of the other Valley Communication cities, Tukwila will review the stipends and may increase the City Council stipend accordingly its stipend to the level of those other cities. Section 2. Repealer. Ordinance No. 2357 is hereby repealed. Section 3. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser. Upon approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and section /subsection numbering. Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of 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. W: Word Processing \Ordinances \Councilmember compensation strike -thru 9 -25 -13 LH:bjs 28 Page 2 of 3 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. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2013. ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney Jim Haggerton, Mayor Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Published: Effective Date: Ordinance Number: W: Word Processing \Ordinances \Councilmember compensation strike -thru 9 -25 -13 LH:bjs Page 3 of 3 29