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Home My WebLink AboutFIN 2022-10-24 Item 1E - Ordinance - 2023-2026 City Council CompensationW i City of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Finance & Governance Committee FROM: Laurel Humphrey, Legislative Analyst DATE: October 17, 2022 SUBJECT: City Council Compensation Ordinance ISSUE Ordinance setting City Council compensation for 2023-2026. BACKGROUND City Council compensation is adopted by ordinance and codified at Tukwila Municipal Code 2.05. In 2022, the City Council requested a City Council compensation review as part of the biennial budget process. The Washington State Constitution prohibits any salary increase or decrease during the term of office for officials who set their own salary, so the earliest compensation could be adjusted for any City Council position is 2024. TMC 2.05 provides that if "at any time the Tukwila City Council compensation rate of increase falls significantly below the cost -of -living increase," it will be re-evaluated and possibly adjusted. The current compensation of $1250 per month for all positions has been in place since 2014. The inflation rate per the Seattle -Tacoma -Bellevue CPI -U has increased $31.91 in that time (June to June). Retirement Plan Per WAC 415-108-570, in order to earn service credit in a state retirement plan, elected officials must earn at least 90 times the state minimum wage each month. The current Council compensation rate of $1250 per month has fallen behind. With the increase in the state minimum wage to $14.49 per hour in 2022, Councilmembers must earn at least $1304.10 per month to earn service credit. Proposal Staff suggests that the City Council consider a modest increase to its compensation for four reasons: 1) To reflect that the cost of living has significantly increased since 2014 2) To more reasonably reflect the time and effort involved in serving as a Councilmember 3) To help encourage diverse members of the Tukwila community to pursue elected office 4) To resume earning service credits for those participating in a state retirement plan 97 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 The table below reflects a monthly increase of $200 per month beginning in 2024 for positions 2, 4 and 6, and in 2026 for positions 1, 3, 5 and 7. This represents a 16% increase, roughly half of the actual cost of living increase since the current compensation was adopted in 2014. The Finance & Governance Committee agreed with this proposal at its August 8, 2022 meeting and the draft ordinance has been prepared in accordance with this direction. RECOMMENDATION Staff is seeking a committee recommendation to forward to the November 14, 2022 Committee of the Whole along with other budget -related legislation. 98 Positions 1, 3, 5, 7 Positions 2, 4, 6 Year Term Ends: 12/31/25 Term Ends: 12/31/23 2023 1250 1250 2024 1250 1450 2025 1250 1450 2026 1450 1450 The Finance & Governance Committee agreed with this proposal at its August 8, 2022 meeting and the draft ordinance has been prepared in accordance with this direction. RECOMMENDATION Staff is seeking a committee recommendation to forward to the November 14, 2022 Committee of the Whole along with other budget -related legislation. 98 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 2023 THROUGH 2026; REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2668; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2668 set City Council compensation levels for the years 2022 and 2023; and WHEREAS, City Council compensation has not changed since 2014; and WHEREAS, the cost of living as measured by the Seattle -Tacoma -Bellevue Consumer Price Index (CPI -U) has risen by 32% since 2014; and WHEREAS, public service should be adequately compensated to attract participation from a diverse community; and WHEREAS, RCW 35A.12.070 requires that no Councilmember may increase or decrease the salary during the current term of office; and WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to retain a conservative 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: CC: Legislative Development\Councilmember compensation for 2023 thru 2026 strike-thru 8-15-22 LH:bjs Page 1 of 3 99 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: 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 -Bellevue Consumer Price Index (CPI -U), Tukwila the City Council will review the stipends and may increase the City Council stipend compensation accordingly. Section 2. Repealer. Ordinance No. 2668 is hereby repealed. Section 3. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser. Authorized 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. 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. CC: Legislative Development\Councilmember compensation for 2023 thru 2026 strike-thru 8-15-22 LH:bjs 100 Page 2 of 3 POSITIONS 1, 3, 5, 7 POSITIONS 2, 4, 6 YEAR Current Term of Office: Current Term of Office: 1/1/22 — 12/31/25 1/1/20 — 12/31/23 2023 $1,250/month $1,250/month 2024 $1,250/month $1,450/month 2025 $1,250/month $1,450/month 2026 $1,450/month $1,450/month 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 -Bellevue Consumer Price Index (CPI -U), Tukwila the City Council will review the stipends and may increase the City Council stipend compensation accordingly. Section 2. Repealer. Ordinance No. 2668 is hereby repealed. Section 3. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser. Authorized 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. 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. CC: Legislative Development\Councilmember compensation for 2023 thru 2026 strike-thru 8-15-22 LH:bjs 100 Page 2 of 3 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2022. ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney Allan Ekberg, Mayor Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Published: Effective Date: Ordinance Number: CC: Legislative Development\Councilmember compensation for 2023 thru 2026 strike-thru 8-15-22 LH:bjs Page 3 of 3 101