Chapter 10.80
CITIZENS’ COMMISSION ON COMPENSATION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

Sections:

10.80.010    Purpose.

10.80.020    Duties.

10.80.030    Eligibility.

10.80.040    Appointment.

10.80.050    Operation.

10.80.060    Compensation schedule recommendation.

10.80.070    Open meetings.

10.80.080    Referendum.

10.80.090    Reimbursement unaffected.

10.80.010 Purpose.

It is the policy of the city of Edmonds to base the compensation of elected officials on realistic standards so that elected officials of the city may be compensated according to the duties of their offices, and so that citizens of the highest quality may be attracted in public service. To effectuate this policy, the Edmonds’ citizens commission on the compensation of elected officials (“compensation commission”) is hereby created consisting of seven members with duties and responsibilities as set forth below. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.020 Duties.

The compensation commission shall study the relationship of compensation for each respective position. Except as provided otherwise below, the compensation commission shall be solely responsible for its own organization, operation, and action and shall enjoy the fullest cooperation of all elected officials, departments and agencies of the city of Edmonds. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.030 Eligibility.

The compensation commission shall consist of seven members, all of whom must be at least 21 years of age, registered to vote, and maintain personal residence within the boundaries of the city of Edmonds. No city of Edmonds official or public employee, immediate family member of the official or employee shall be eligible for membership on the compensation commission. As used in this section, the phrase “immediate family” means parents, spouse, siblings, children, or dependent relative of the official or employee, whether or not they are living in the same household. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.040 Appointment.

Two members of the compensation commission shall be appointed by the city council and one member shall be appointed by the mayor; the appointed three members shall select the other four members. The members of the compensation commission shall serve four-year terms originally commencing on October 1, 1999, except that the first seven members shall be appointed for different terms as follows: (A) one member appointed by the city council for a period of four years; (B) one member appointed by the city council for a period of two years; (C) two of the members selected by those three members to serve for periods of four years; and (D) two of the members elected by those three members to serve for periods of two years. No person may serve more than two consecutive terms. Members of the compensation commission may be removed by the mayor, with the approval of the council, only for cause of incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, or for a disqualifying change of eligibility. The unexcused absence of any member of the commission from two consecutive meetings of the commission shall constitute relinquishment of that person’s membership on the commission. Such relinquishment creates a vacancy in that person’s position on the commission. Upon a vacancy in any position on the commission, a successor shall be selected and appointed to fill the unexpired term. The selection and appointment shall be concluded within 30 days of the date that position becomes vacant and shall be conducted in the same manner as originally provided for that person’s appointment. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.050 Operation.

The members of the compensation commission shall elect a chair from among their number. The commission shall prepare a recommended schedule of compensation by an affirmative vote of not less than five members of the commission. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.060 Compensation schedule recommendation.

The commission shall file its schedules of recommended compensation for elected officials of the city with the city clerk no later than the first Monday in May of each even-numbered year. The signature of the chair of the commission shall be affixed to each schedule submitted to the city clerk. The chair shall certify that the schedule has been adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the rules, if any, of the commission. Such schedules shall become effective only upon adoption by the city council and in accordance with state law. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.070 Open meetings.

All meetings, actions, hearings, and business of the commission shall be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act as set forth in Chapter 42.30 RCW. Prior to the filing of any compensation schedule, the commission shall hold no fewer than two public hearings thereon within the two months immediately preceding the filing of its recommendation. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.080 Referendum.

Any ordinance enacting change in compensation shall be subject to referendum petition by the citizens in accordance with city ordinance. Any ordinance which enacts a commission recommendation shall be subject to Article XXX, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution regarding increases in elected officials’ compensation during their term of office. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].

10.80.090 Reimbursement unaffected.

The mayor and councilmembers shall receive reimbursement for their action and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office, or the council by ordinance may provide for a per diem allowance. Procedure for approval of claims for expenses shall be as provided by ordinance, consistent with state law. [Ord. 3508 § 1, 2004].