2.10.020 Independent Salary Commission.
(1) Creation of Independent Salary Commission. The City Council may create an Independent Salary Commission.
(2) Purpose. The purpose of the Independent Salary Commission shall be to review and establish the salaries of the Mayor and the Council members.
(3) Composition. The Independent Salary Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
(4) Compensation. The Independent Salary Commission shall serve without compensation.
(5) Term. The term of appointment is up to one year.
(6) Qualifications.
(a) Each person appointed to serve as a member of the Independent Salary Commission shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the City for at least one year immediately preceding such appointment and while serving on the Independent Salary Commission, and a registered voter in King County.
(b) No officer, official, or employee of the City or any of their immediate family members may serve on the Independent Salary Commission. “Immediate family member” as used in this section means the parents, spouse, siblings, children, or dependent relatives of the officer, official, or employee, whether or not living in the household of the officer, official, or employee.
(7) Operation.
(a) The Independent Salary Commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its members. The Independent Salary Commission may establish and adopt rules of procedure for the efficient and fair conduct of its business.
(b) The City Manager shall appoint staff and make available supplies and equipment to assist the Independent Salary Commission in preparation of its reports and records.
(c) Any communication from the Independent Salary Commission to any member of the City Council while reviewing the schedule of salaries shall be in writing and made part of the record of the Independent Salary Commission’s proceedings.
(d) The Independent Salary Commission shall keep a written record of its proceedings, which shall be a public record in accordance with State law and shall allow public comment at all meetings, which shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW.
(e) The first meeting of the Independent Salary Commission shall occur no later than 20 days after the member appointments are confirmed by the City Council, and the commission shall review and, if it so determines, amend and file its salary schedule with the City Clerk within 90 days after appointments are confirmed by the City Council.
(f) Three members of the Independent Salary Commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of three members shall be sufficient for the decision of all matters and the transaction of all business.
(8) Responsibilities. To determine the appropriate rate of compensation, the Independent Salary Commission shall assess the market rate of compensation for elected city officials and study the relationship of salaries to the duties of the Mayor and the City Council members. Salaries shall be established by an affirmative vote of not less than three members.
(9) Removal. A member of the Independent Salary Commission may only be removed during the appointment term for cause such as incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or for a disqualifying change of residence.
(10) Filing Date – Salary Schedule. The Independent Salary Commission shall file its salary schedule with the City Clerk who will publish the schedule two times, at least one week apart, in the official newspaper of the City. The second date of publication shall be considered the official filing date of the salary schedule.
(11) Effective Date – Salaries. The Independent Salary Commission’s salary schedule shall become effective in the amounts, at the times, and under the conditions established in the salary schedule. Once filed, the salary schedule shall be incorporated into the City budget without further action of the City Council or Independent Salary Commission. Salary adjustments established by the Independent Salary Commission that result in a salary increase shall be effective immediately as to all Council members and/or the Mayor, regardless of their terms of office. If the salary adjustment established by the Independent Salary Commission results in a salary decrease, the decreased salary shall be effective at the commencement of the incumbent’s next subsequent term of office. (Ord. 02-24 § 2 (Exh. A))