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Home My WebLink AboutFormal Report, Findings & Conclusion - Salary & Compensation Schedule - 11/24/2015 -- �-'.. .. . . .. .. � _ . +ClTY C3F � ' ` >.. � �17Y OF REfVTO� Novemb.er 3.0;2015 2015 : Denis Law, Mayor Jason Seth;:Ci:ty Clerk IVED . . . , . . . E K' OF _ .. .�TY CL .. .. . . �ICE From: 2015 Independent Salary Commission - RE: Formal Report, Findings;:&Conclusion—Sa.lary:and Compensati.on:5ch:edule Back�round: _ _ ;... . .. Renton Citq:Council adopted.Ordinance 5773 to establ:ish an Independent:Salary Commission:to review councilmember com ensation. Ma or Law a ointed.and Councif confirmed the. __ :. . . . . p Y:. pp _ _ . following five member5 to the 2015.In.d.ependent Salary.Commission on October::26.,2015. 1.. ::David Kroeger : ::2. Kimberly Searing , 3. Julio Amador�: 4. .Calvin Lyons ,. . 5. Violet Aes.quivel :: . :: :. . . . _. . Tfie first meeting of the 2015 independent Salary Commission was ca e .to or er on Novem er 24, 2015:a:t 9::00 a.m. in the Council Conference Room:of Renton City Ha11; 1055 S.Grady 1Nay: : Cit:y staff present included Iwen Wang,.Adm:inistrative Services Administrator; Nancy Carlson, . Human Resourcesand.Risk Management:Administrator;:and:Jason Seth, City:Clerk:After a brief :: . .. .. . . �. .. _ . ` .::. :.:. introductio.n;the Commission.m:embers selected:Dav:id Kroeger and Kimberly Searing as Chair.:. . .. . . . . .: : and Vice=Chair, respectively. .: :. . . >. . .. .. . . Review'of:Commission's Roles:and Responsibilities:: :: :. Chair Kro:eger proceeded:w.itfi flie.agenda and.;called on Ms.Wang:for an.overview of th:e. " Commission's purpose.:She explained that:the Commission.is to examine City of Renton _ . . . . _ Coun:cilmember salary and b.enefits:She added.that Couneilmember salaries and benefits.have .. not been:r.eviewed since 2004.: :-: The Commission revi:ewed its duties:as outlined in Renton IVlunicipal Code (RMC:2-20-04).As an :: ,.. - independent:decision-making body,the Commission;is charged witli e.valuating the full _ com ensation, includin salaries and benefits;:of Renton Cit Councilmem6ers.The _ ._.. , .. p g responsibilities of.:the:Gommission include studying the relatio.nship of salaries to the duties of Council Rr.esident and Councilmembers;and the costs,personally incurre.d by Councilmembers while p.er.forming those duties;;studying the relationship of Renton.City Gouncilmember.salaries _ . :. and benefits to:those of:otherjurisdictions;establishing salary and benefits by increasing or , _ aecreasing current:compensation; and filing a salary and:b.enefit compensation report with the _. City Clerk no:later than November 30, 2015. - -. , �� , .�.. r.�_ ' , � f Review of Citv Council Roles and Responsibilities: Mr..Seth reviewed a summary of the roles of the City Council (legislative branch)vs.that of Mayor(executive branch),and the additional duties required of the Council President; the number of council, council committee, and regional meetings Renton City Council attends; and an estimated weekly time (22.5 hours)councilmembers dedicate to fulfill their responsibilities. It was noted that Renton City Council has the most frequent regular meeting schedule (generally every week vs. every-other-week for most comparable cities.) Review of Council Compensation amon�Comparable Cities: Ms. Carlson presented the comparable cities information chart.She explained that the survey included the same cities the Human Resources Department uses when surveying salaries for regular city positions; these cities are selected based on the general geographical area where Renton competes for recruiting and retention of City staff; and that Renton typically considers its compensation within range when it is within 5%+/-of the average of the comparable communities. She also pointed out the different forms of government, noting that mayors are selected from amongst the councilmembers for the council/city manager form of government,and perform duties similar in nature to Renton's council president.She explained,therefore,those types of cities were included as comparison of council president compensation. It was also noted that the comparable cities provide a wide variety of additional benefits that range from car allowances to meeting stipends; and all cities offer medical coverage for councilmembers.With all factors considered,the survey result for Council compensation showed Renton is 27% below market for councilmembers and 36%below market for council president. Analysis and Deliberation: The Commission recognized that Council work requires a substantial time commitment, an ability to grasp complex government funding and financing issues, and the expertise to delve deeply and quickly into all phases of City functions.The Commission agrees that this is an elected, part-time, public service position and compensation should not unduly influence, in either direction,.the consideration to run for public office, but also believes it should look at all aspects of the work, and set salary and/or benefits at a level that recognizes the degree of work and commitment. The Commission also recognized the discrepancy in the pay between Renton City Councilmembers and the comparable cities and believes an adjustment is warranted. Further, the commissioners discussed Renton's large population growth since 2004 (the last time council compensation was reviewed), making a correlation between the sizable growth and an increased demand to access to elected officials. They also noted that the nu,mber of regional ry committee assignments had doubled since 2004. The Commission further examined and discussed the additional duties required of the Council President. After extended discussion, the commissioners agreed to remove the City of Everett as a comparable city due to their compensation rates being much higher than the market average, and used the remaining seven comparable cities to come to an average compensation of$1,218 per month for councilmembers and $1,370 per month for council president. . . '� : '-- � � Findin�and Conclusions: Based on the above,the 2015 Independent Salary Commission finds that: 1. Renton councilmembers are paid significantly less than their comparable counterparts, on average, in both base salary and to some degree, in benefits. 2. The salary and compensation is not intended to compensate Councilmembers for work actually performed but rather as recognition of the time, expertise and commitment that this public service work requires. 3. Benefits offered are different and difficult to compare. The only benefit that is offered consistently is the medical coverage for councilmembers. The city does not provide a per-meeting based stipend or allowance for smart phone/internet expenses. But under Renton's expense and reimbursement policies, councilmembers are eligible for reimbursement of expenses including travel for assigned/approved regional meetings (e.g. mileage, lodging, parking, meals) and certain office and operating supplies. The Commission understands historically very few reimbursement requests have been submitted by councilmembers. 4. 12 years is a long time to review and keep compensation current. The Commission, therefore, recommends that the City review council compensation more frequently to address changes in conditions in a timelier manner. Following the discussion, it was MOVED BY AESQUIVEL, SECONDED BY LYONS, TO INCREASE COUNCILMEMBER SALARY FROM $950 PER MONTH TO$1,250 PER MONTH. CARRIED. Following additional discussion, it was MOVED BY LYONS,SECONDED BY AESQUIVEL,TO ADD AN ADDITIOIVAL$200 PER MONTH STIPEND FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMPENSATION. CARRIED. Additionally, it was MOVED BY SEARING, SECOfVDED BY LYONS, TO RECOMMEND THE CITY CONVENE A IVEW INDEPENDENT SALARY COMMISSION EVERY FOUR YEARS TO REVIEW COUNCILMEMBER SALARY AND BENEFIT COMPENSATION. CARRIED. The Commission determined that no changes to additional benefits are required at this time. The Commission further discussed the effective date and agreed to set it on January 1, 2016, to allow for the 30-day referendum filing period. NOW THEREFORE, the Commission concludes that the following Salary and Compensation Schedule be followed: Section 1. Salary: To continue to attract and maintain qualified City Councilmember candidates,to keep Renton in line with the current market, and to recognize the time commitment that a Councilmember position requires, the Commission herby determines an increase in salaries is warranted; and hereby establishes the salaries,with an effective date of January 1, 2016, as follows: POSITION CURRENT SALARY NEW SALARY Council President $950 per month $1,450 per month Council President Pro Tem $950 per month $1,250 per month Councilmembers $950 per month $1,250 per month y-_-- ,_ • P � I � t,�.' � '�-� , Section 2. Benefits: The Commission determined that the no change is warranted at this time regarding benefits. Section 3. Future Councilmember Compensation Review: The Commission recommends that a new Independent Salary Commission be established every four years,to coincide with the City's biennial budget planning process,to review Councilmember Compensation. The Salary and Compensation Schedule is subject to referendum in the same manner as a City ordinance. As required by law, a referendum petition must be filed with the City Clerk within thirty (30) days from the date of schedule's official filing date. If a valid petition is filed, the salary adjustment will not go into effect unless approved at a subsequent referendum election. APPROVED by the 2015 Independent Salary Commission, and FILED with the City Clerk this 30th day of November, 2015. ��/��! v �i * David Kroeger, Chair � a, �-��, Kimberly Sea ng,Vice-Chair i. L/ C.l`�yr./GJ �� Violet Aesqui�; Member � C�`��. n Calvin Lyons, ember Julio Ama , Member i