2019-08-07 Salary Commission MinutesSALARY COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
SPECIALLY CALLED MEETING
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
7:00 pm
Police Department Training Room
250 5t" Ave. N., Edmonds, WA 98020
Present: Jay Grant, Chair
Ava Dubno, Vice -Chair
Don Hall, Commissioner
Jeff Hodson, Commissioner
Carl Zapora Commissioner
Marilynne Beard, Consultant, MMB Consulting (by conference
phone)
Excused:
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Grant called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Grant asked the Commissioners if they had any changes to the agenda.
Noting none, the agenda was approved as submitted.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Grant asked the Commissioners if there were any changes to the Meeting
Minutes of the July 24, 2019 meeting. Commissioner Hall moved to approve the
minutes. Motion was approved with Commissioner Zapora and Hodson
abstaining.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chair Grant noted that there were no members of public present to provide
comment.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Chair Update
Chair Grant reported to the Commissioners that Council President Fraley-
Monillas, through Emily Wagener of Human Resources, wanted a clarification of
the Commission's request for a list of committees currently assigned to
Councilmembers. After clarification from Chair Grant, Emily Wagener got back to
ELW 7/2/2019
the Council President.
Ms. Beard noted that the Council President had also called her regarding
clarification. The Council does maintain records about attendance at committee
meetings and she will forward the 2019 information to the Commission for their
information.
Review and Update of Additional Data Received since Last Meeting
Updated Cost of Living Adjustments — Staff provided requested
information in the Commission's August 7 packet. The Commission will
discuss the new information at the August 14 meeting once they have had
a chance to review the materials. The Commission had questions about
the salary schedules provided and step system which Chair Grant and Ms.
Beard addressed.
Commission Topics of Interest or Concerns
Council Survey Questions — Draft Council survey questions had been
forwarded to the Salary Commission following their last meeting. The
Commission requested edits to the draft survey including:
o Addition of Mayor's salary and benefits in background section
o Clarification that Council attends committee meetings in addition to
their regular Council meetings
o Addition of a question inquiring as to any other factors the
Commission should consider when setting elected officials'
compensation
o Addition of question asking for any other comments
o Minor wording changes and correction of typographical errors
o Commissioner Hodson offered edit the survey background section
for succinctness. He will make edits and forward to Chair Grant
and Ms. Beard prior to the survey publication date.
Commissioner Hall moved approval of the Council survey as amended.
Commissioner Hodson seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously. Based on the Commission's discussion, Ms. Beard will
update the draft survey questions and forward the document to staff for
development of the survey instrument
• Community Survey Questions — Draft Community survey questions had
been forwarded to the Salary Commission following their last meeting.
The Commission requested edits to the draft survey including:
o Include all amendments made to Council survey (noted above)
o Include "volunteer" in the description of the Salary Commission
members
o Add notice of August 21 public hearing at end of survey.
Commissioner Hodson moved approval of the community survey as
amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Dubno. The
motion was passed unanimously.
• Survey Distribution — A distribution list had been forwarded to the
Commission in advance of the August 7 meeting. The Commission added
My Edmonds News and the Herald to the list.
The Commission established a timeline for release of the surveys and
completion:
o Publicize and release survey August 12
o Request that the Beacon include an article and link to the survey in
their print version scheduled for release on August 15
o Establish end of business August 19 as due date for survey
responses
o A draft media release will be forwarded to the Commission
members by August 8.
The Commission asked that hard copies of the survey be available at City
Hall for individuals that prefer that method of completing surveys.
• Topics for August 14 Commission meeting will include discussion of
elected officials' compensation including a possible cost of living
adjustment.
Future Commission Meeting Schedule
• Wednesday, August 14, 2019, 7.00 pm — Commission Meeting
• Wednesday, August 21, 2019 7.00 pm — Commission Meeting and Public
Hearing
• Wednesday, September 11, 2019 7.00 pm — Commission Meeting
The Commission inquired when their report will be presented to the City Council
and asked that staff send them a calendar invite for the meeting.
101t9:I4 V
There were no other items for discussion.
Chair Grant adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Survey Questions and Distribution provided by Ms. Beard.
DRAFT COMMUNITY SURVEY QUESTIONS
The Edmonds Salary Commission is conducting its review of elected officials' compensation for 2020 and
2021 and is seeking input from the public. Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey about
the Edmond's City Council compensation.
Salary Commission Background
The City of Edmonds Salary Commission is composed of five volunteer community representatives that
have the responsibility of determining the annual salary and benefits for the City Council and Mayor.
The Mayor is a full-time employee and receives a salary of $10,495 per month. Additionally, the Mayor
receives health care benefits consistent with other City employees. The City Council members are part-
time employees. In addition to their regular weekly Council meetings, they also attend local and
regional committee meetings and attend other public events.
In 2017, the Commission considered data from comparable cities and adjusted Council salaries to be on
par with the average of those cities. The Edmonds City Council members are paid $1,250 per month and
receive health care benefits or they can choose a cash equivalent of $728 per month (based the cost of
health care benefits).
This year, the Commission is exploring the possibility of tying Council compensation to some measure of
accountability and is considering factors such as consistent attendance at local and regional meetings as
one way to measure accountability for the Council's commitment to represent the interests of the
Edmonds community. The Commission may consider other factors, however, whatever that factor may
be, it must be measurable and objective.
1. Do you agree or disagree with linking Council compensation to some measure of accountability
such as consistent meeting attendance?
a. Agree
b. Disagree
c. No Opinion
2. If you agree that an accountability measure should be factored into the Salary Commission's
criteria for setting Council compensation, what measures other than meeting attendance would
you suggest?
3. The Council President has additional responsibilities such as working with the Mayor and staff to
set the meeting agendas and chairing the weekly Council meetings. Currently, the Council
President receives $200 per month over the Council's base pay. Would you agree that this
amount is commensurate with their added responsibilities?
a. Agree
b. Disagree
c. If you disagree, please indicate how much the Council President should be paid for
his/her duties?
4. What other factors should the Commission consider when setting elected officials'
compensation?
5. Do you have any other thoughts?
The Commission wishes to thank you for taking the time to offer your insights on this issue. The
Commission will be holding a Public Hearing on Wednesday, August 21 at 7:00 PM and encourages
community members to offer comments.
DRAFT CITY COUNCIL SURVEY
To: Edmonds City Council
From: Edmonds Salary Commission
The Edmonds Salary Commission is conducting its review of elected officials' compensation for 2020 and
2021 and is seeking input from the public and the City Council about information the Commission should
take into consideration when establishing wage and benefit levels. In 2017, the Commission considered
data from comparable cities and adjusted Council salaries to be on par with the average of those cities.
This year, the Commission is considering other factors, such as consistent attendance at local and
regional meetings, in addition to regular Council meetings, as one way to measure accountability for
their commitment to represent the interests of the Edmonds community. One nearby city provides
compensation above the base wage for the number of meetings attended by Councilmembers and has a
City Council job description and list of responsibilities that includes meeting attendance. (Edmonds
Salary Commission Minutes of July 17, 2019)IIMB1]
The Commission understands that elected officials are ultimately held accountable by the voters. The
Commission is interested in possibly tying compensation to some measure of accountability. Whatever
that measure may be, it must be measurable and objective.
1. Do you agree or disagree with linking compensation to some measure of accountability such as
consistent meeting attendance?
a. Agree
b. Disagree
c. No Opinion
2. If you agree that an accountability measure should be factored into the Salary Commission's
criteria for setting Council compensation, what measures other than meeting attendance would
you suggest?
3. The Commission recognizes that the Council President has additional responsibilities regarding
the City Council meetings and coordination with City officials. Currently, the Council President
receives $200 per month over the Council's base pay. Would you agree that this amount is
commensurate with their added responsibilities?
a. Agree
b. Disagree
c. If you disagree, please indicate how much the Council President should be paid for
his/her duties?
4. What other factors should the commission consider when setting salaries for elected officials?
5. Do you have any other thoughts?
2019 SALARY COMMISSION COMMUNITY SURVEY DISTRIBUTION
• City Boards and Commissions
• Chamber of Commerce
• Edmonds Downtown Merchants Association
• Service Clubs
o Rotary (2)
o Kiwanis
o Lions
• City of Edmonds Facebook and Website
• Edmonds Next Door
• Edmond's Moms Facebook
• My Edmonds Neighbors Facebook
• Business Improvement District members
• Media Release to media distribution list including Beacon, and My Edmonds New and the Herald