2018, 11-29 packet rSjYoUane
Valley® 10210 E Sprague Avenue • Spokane Valley WA 99206
Phone: (509)720-5000 •Fax: (509)720-5075 • www.spokanevalley.org
Email: cityhall@spokanevalley.org
INDEPENDENT SALARY COMMISSION
Thursday,November 29, 2018
3:00 P.M.
Spokane Valley City Hall
10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, Wa.
Conference Room N212
AGENDA
1. Convene Meeting
2. Recap of First Meeting: Review of Meeting Summary
•
3. Applicable Revised Code of Washington (RCW) provisions relating to duties of
Councilmembers and of City Manager under the Council/Manager form of
government.
4. Review and Discuss Prior Spokane Valley Salary Survey
Includes: updated information on prior cities surveyed; discussion on which cities
to include in current survey, and possible survey questions.
5. Other Concerns
6. Public Comment
7. -Wrap-up Comments
8. Adjourn
Spokii.ne
C[rY orOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
Christine Bainbridge,City Clerk
Vall�y� 10210 E Sprague Avenue ♦ Spokane Valley WA 99206
Phone: (509)720-5102 ♦Fax: (509)720-5075 ♦ www.spokanevalley.org
cbainbridge@spolcanevalley.org
SPOKANE VALLEY INDEPENDENT SALARY COMMISSION
Spokane Valley City Hall, Conference Room N117
November 20, 2018
Commission Members Present: Staff Present:
Bill Gothmann Staff Liaison: Cary Driskell, City Attorney
Michael Moore Chelsie Taylor, Finance Director
Chuck Simpson John Whitehead, Human Resources Manager
Tes Sturges Carrie Koudelka, Deputy City Clerk •
Kathe Williams
Commission Members Absent:
Steve Robertson
Meeting Summary:
City Attorney Driskell convened the meeting at 11:00 a.m. and the attendees briefly introduced
themselves. There were no members of the public in attendance.
Mr. Driskell thanked everyone for volunteering and gave background information as to the
limitations of setting the salary for Councilmembers as established by Article 30 of the Washington
State constitution. He said that according to state law, the City has two ways to set salaries for
councilmembers: 1) Council can vote to set their own salaries but the salary would not go into
effect until the term following their own; or, 2) Council can establish an independent salary
commission to analyze the workload of the Councilmembers and compare their workload and
salaries with that of other similar cities. He said following the independent analysis, the
commission will submit a final report and make a recommendation to Council. Any adopted
changes would then become law and the new salary of Councilmembers within thirty days.
Mr. Driskell explained that Spokane Valley is a Council/Manger form of government whereby
Council decides policy issues and the City Manager and staff carry out the policies set by Council.
He said the Mayor is selected by the Councilmembers to fill the largely ceremonial role of Mayor
for a two-year period. He said it is also the role of the Mayor to chair the Council meetings.
Final Report from 2006
Mr. Driskell referred the group to the packet materials and asked if there were any questions;there
were none. He said the 2006 Final Report provides a good framework to consider for their analysis,
adding that they are not obligated to follow it and they can make modifications to it at their
discretion. He said by law,the final report from the commission must be issued to Council within
ninety days of Council appointing the commissioners.
As a brief history, Mr. Driskell said that when Spokane Valley incorporated in 2003, the original
salaries were set at $400 a month for Councilmembers and $500 a month for Mayor. In 2004, a
change in salaries was adopted; however, a referendum was filed and the salary changes were
rejected. In 2006, an independent review and analysis was conducted and salaries were changed at
that time. He said no other changes have been made to the salaries since then,but the nature of the
jobs for Councilmembers have become more complex and the City budget has increased. He said
at a Council meeting a few months ago, a member of the public asked that the Salary Commission
be reconvened to assist in attracting quality councilmember interest.
Mr. Gothmann asked Mr. Driskell to explain the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the
Public Records Act (PRA) and how they relate to the Salary Commission. Mr. Driskell said the
commission is established by Council and is subject to the requirements of the OPMA. Some of
those requirements include notification to the public of the meetings so they can attend and give
public comment. He said it also means that more than three members of the commission can't
discuss the business of the commission outside of public meetings. He said all records of the
commission are subject to the PRA. upon request. Mr. Driskell said that another provision in the
City code is that once the commission is convened, members are not to discuss anything from the
meetings with any Council members. He said that it is important that the public has confidence
that what we do is transparent,that we use reasoned analysis and that nothing is done in secret.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Mr. Gothmann nominated himself to chair the commission. Mr. Driskell said the role of Chair and
Vice Chair is very limited and he said he is not exactly sure of their function. Mr. Simpson
nominated Ms. Sturges to Vice Chair. The nominations were seconded and unanimously passed.
Mr. Driskell asked if the group prefers to have the meetings run by the Chair or by the Staff
Liaison; Mr. Gothmann suggested that he and Ms. Sturges meet with Mr. Driskell to set the
agendas.
Mr. Driskell said staff will draft questions for the next meetings based on what the commission
wants answered by Councilmembers, such as their time commitment, as well as a survey of the
public and analysis of other cities. Ms. Sturges said she is more interested in the details of the
analysis of other cities, such as how many hours Councilmembers are putting into their roles. Mr.
Whitehead said we may need to get a survey by those city's council members as well. Mr.
Gothmann said they might try to pare down the list of cities to those that are most comparable to
our form of government. Mr. Driskell said comparisons need to be within Washington State
because all states have different laws and requirements so to go out of the state would make it
difficult to compare and analyze. Mr. Driskell added that Spokane Valley is different from other
jurisdictions because we do not provide fire, library, water, or utility services. Mr. Simpson said
he thinks we should exclude all Puget Sound cities and stay in eastern Washington and the
Vancouver area.Mr. Driskell said he doesn't know if compensation is skewed by the cost of living,
but he recommends including those cities initially and they can be excluded later if that is the
desire of the commission.
Ms. Sturges said for the next meeting she would like the list updated with current information and
pared down to cities more similar to Spokane Valley; Mr. Whitehead said he will provide an
updated list and asked the group to give him a list of factors that he can compare. Mr. Driskell
suggested population,type of government, and budget. Mr. Gothmann added the number of hours
spent by Council members if we can get it.Ms. Williams said she is reluctant to gather information
for comparison if it is not potentially good information, adding that the hours of other council
members spent in their roles may not be good information to do the analysis. Mr. Driskell said
Spokane is not usually a good comparison because of the difference in their form of government.
Mr. Gothmann suggested that Mr. Whitehead gather the information and the commission will
decide which jurisdictions to include in their analysis at the next meeting.
Mr. Simpson asked about the benefits the Councilmembers get outside of wages. Mr. Driskell said
the charge of commission is determining salary only, not including benefits. He said
Councilmembers are offered health, dental and vision benefits, which he said is unusual for
Councilmembers in the state, but that is what was adopted in 2003. Ms. Sturges asked if they can
consider the benefits they receive when determining their salary. Mr. Driskell said he can't tell
them they can't think about that as they move forward, but he again said the charge of the
commission is to determine the salary of the Council. Mr. Gothmann said some Councilmembers
may choose to not enroll in the insurance benefits. Finance Director Taylor said they can opt out,
but that is not the norm. Ms. Sturges asked if they get retirement benefits and Mr. Whitehead said
they are eligible for retirement benefits but they have to be vested before receiving any benefit;he
said many choose not to enroll in retirement benefits.
Future Meetings
The next meetings will be approximately one hour and Mr. Driskell proposed the larger second
floor conference room (N212) if possible. Upcoming meetings were scheduled as follows:
Thursday,November 29, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Driskell said the deadline for the commission to submit their report is February 4, 2019. He
said next week they will identify those cities for which to compare and the criteria. He asked that
the City Clerk include the website survey and data from Laserfiche in the packet materials for the
next meeting.
There being no further business,the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
Salary Survey Data,November 2006
I. Given the responsibilities of Council members, how much do you feel is an appropriate
monthly salary?
$400 (no change): 31 43%
. $500-$800: 6 8%
$900-$1200: 16 22% •
$1300-$1500: 12 16%
$1600 $2000: 7 10%
TOTAL 72
2. Given the responsibilities of the Mayor,how much do you feel is an appropriate monthly
salary?
$500 (no change): 30 42%
$600-$900: 5 •
7%
$1000-$1300: 7 10%
$1400-$1700: 17 24%
$1800-$2100: 13 18%
TOTAL 72
3. Are there any other comments you would like to convey to the Salary
Commission? [number (or comment) in parenthesis after each comment indicates the number of years
that person stated they have lived in Spokane Valley.]
NEGATIVE COMMENTS:
1. With their medical benefits they are amply compensated (30)
2. Medical already adds about $800/month; no light rail; lower property taxes (45)
3. You knew what you were getting into when you ran. Live with the pay or don't do it. Half the
Valley doesn't want to be a city anyway !H (since incorporation)
4. For the kind of work being accomplished I believe the wages are appropriate. The people that
pushed and pushed and pushed for this joke of a city were all content to have some power and
authority at first. But now here comes the pocket rape of valley citizens. It is to bad that the
Valley royal court are putting in more hours than they anticipated. There should be a period of
ten years before there is a wage increase for a new city. The other cities that are being compared
are mostly established one. The council still hounds the county,for this and for that. Another
reason that wages should be frozen until the joke of Spokane valley can become self-sufficient
and quit bumming from the county. A few more dollars a month could have been made by valley
city employees with the $18,000+ that was spent on the Christmas tree that only a handful of
Salary Survey Data November 2006 Page 1 of 5
Salary Survey Data,November 2006
people wanted in the first place. You people wanted this cluster--now get it running efficiently
and then we'll see about raises. (53)
5. Average salaries do not take into consideration time on the job, experience, or effectiveness of
the participant. People from all over the valley, and from Post Falls, Cda, etc travel daily back &
Forth on Appleway/Sprague. It is, in many cases, the first road other than 1-90 they travel on in
the valley. It is their FIRST IMPRESSION of our FAIR city. Unfortunately, it's not a good one,
and arguably, not a safe one either. So, other than money, which apparently we have enough of
(prodding us to raise salaries) where is the evidence that anyone in City Hall knows or cares
about safety? (2)
6. They knew what the pay was when deciding to run for office. With their very extremely good
medical package they don't need a pay raise. If it's not enough then don't run again. Quit trying
to stick it to the taxpayers. (31)
7. There seems to be enough money to have more fire fighters and stations. IF that is the case
why has the CITY OF SPOKANE VALLEY take the moneies you want for a raise and make our
city look like a city instead of a bunch of strip malls and broken streets, and car cluttered, junk
yards. You spend things on the wrong items. I am very discouraged with what the council is
doing and the mayor. We hear gun shots going off practically every nite, and nothing is done
about it. We live in a nice corner, but you allow more apartments and duplexes in which draws
the undesireables. So NO on raises for the council, and the mayor. (5)
8. Comparing this area to any other area for pay scale is ludicrous. If the people do not think they
are making enough money then they should find another line of work where they can make what
they think they are wroth. The statement was made that having another layer of government
would not cost any more in taxes well here we go this will only be the tip of the iceberg. (24)
9_ My bosses past and present have always told me, if I don't like what I am being paid, go
somewhere else! I wonder what each of there benefit packages comes to as it has not been
revealed!!! You need let the public know! (15)
10. Since this has already been turned down by the voters, this appears to be a back door attempt
to circumvent the wishes of the voters who put you into office, not a good idea. Where would
you be without the support of the voters? This is beginning to smell like the city council, which
is one of the reasons I do not choose to live in the city. (40)
11. 1 do not feel that the city should have a increase in wages because there is nothing different
from what we had before it became a city, as far as I can see, except a one way east and a one
way west that doesn't do much except confuse everybody. All the empty business's that we have
along Appleway and Sprague are a real eye sore and doesn't say much for the city, and we have
no incentives for new business to move here. So until I can see an. improvement I don't feel there
should be a increase in wages. I did not vote for the incorporation, but was hoping since it was
shoved down our throat that we would see something good come of it by now. That hasn't
happened yet. (51)
12. If you didn't like the salary perhaps you should not have run for the office. (10)
Salary Survey Data November 2006 Page 2 of 5
•
Salary Survey Data,November 2006
13. These people were elected to their positions knowing what the salaries were. If the salaries
stay the same, then we will get people who want to do the job instead of career politions. If they
are not willing to do the jobs at the current rate resign. (33)
14. There are part time positions. They were part time positions when these people applied for
them. I will not vote a pay increase for these part time people. (5)
15. I didn't want this "CITY" and one of the items they used for propaganda when it was voted
on time and time again, was the lower cost of government. Well I say keep it low cost, if these
people don't want to "SERVE"for the current wages, let someone else do it. (35)
16, These people knew the salary when they decided to run for office, they should not continue if
they cannot support themselves. Isn't it public service? (3)
17. They were elected to this position. (19)
18. What part of public servant don't you understand; their medical benefits are more than I
make. (30)
NEUTRAL COMMENTS:
1. You forget to calculate the benefits these people get that should be included too! (30+)
2. I feel the Mayor & Council should also have a paid for medical plan. If they already have one
use the added expense and donate to one of our local charities. (35)
3. Pay raises should be a small amount at a time so as not to get to many people excited about a
large amount, maybe later on another one enatted (75)
4. $2000 is too much (a while)
5, Not all councilmembers participate in medical benefits. (30)
6. Why do they need a raise? "we need to attract qualified. people" I heard one official say. Are
the current members not qualified? (27)
7. 1 think they should get more money, but not until they (the councilmembers and mayor) make
the case to the public that they deserve more. (34)
8. 1 was on the council of a small eastern Washington town for 5 years and later served as Mayor
Pro tern for a year and then Mayor for four years. Small towns have the same problems that large
cities have just fewer people and less funds to deal with it. I wish you all the very best. (18)
9. The valley incorporation was based on running an efficient government with more public
service for less money. Perhaps we should wait until we know how much "more public service"
will cost (e.g. public safety services, roads, etc.,) before we consider giving raises. I believe it is
still too early to be considered raises for public officials. (23)
10. Why is there no mention of the benefits they receive beyond the monthly salary? When that
• is taken into account it becomes a great job. (22)
Salary Survey Data November 2006 Page 3 of 5
Salary Survey Data,November 2006
POSITIVE COMMENTS:
L Great job (no answer)
2. They work hard, they deserve it! (18)
3. You get what you pay for. (18)
4. Good for them. They desearve it. (no answer)
5. Running a city, particularly a city the size of Spokane Valley, is not unlike running a business.
Where in the world would you find a corporate "board of directors" that would work the hours
demanded of our elected officials for so little. (28)
6. It's grossly unfair to have people give of their time and talent for as little pay as they currently
receive! There are 2 of us in this household that agree about this. (39)
7. We need good folks (no answer)
8. As a strong supporter of the city of Spokane Valley, I have felt from the beginning we ask a
great deal of ALL our council members. From the beginning I felt we need to help compensate
the considerable contribution our council members and Mayor make. Personally, to pay them
less than what I suggest (council $900, Mayor $1800) is totally unfair. They do not do the job
they work so hard at for money, it is personal commitment to our community. They are all doing
an excellent job and should be properly compensated. Terry Lynch (37)
9, These people are dedicated to their jobs and the community and they spend far more time than
just the council meetings working for this city. They attend all kinds of commissions and
meetings to promote our best interests and to make sure that people are aware of our needs. (37)
10. The council definitely deserves more than their"less than minimum" wage I t 111 1111111 (30)
11. The City Council is doing a fine job for the city. They need to be paid a fair salary for what
they are doing. (8)
12. They do a great job. (18)
13. You can't get something for nothing, which is what those who are against a decent wage
want. They want government free and that just isn't feasible if they want quality leadership and
representation. Tax revenues are being generated in Spokane Valley which could support an
appropriate wage for the mayor and city council, so why not give them the wage they deserve?
(3)
14, 1 feel that our Mayor and our counsel members deserve a fair raise, as they have a lot of
responsibilities and do a great job. (7)
•
15. I feel that the Mayor and Council members have committed their time and efforts to us. They
deserve our commitment to them and it would also justify our commitment to the Spokane
Valley. (19)
Salary Survey Data November 2006 Page 4 of 5
Salary Survey Data,November 2006
4. How long have you lived in Spokane Valley? [answers in years]
02
03: 3
04
05
06
07: 2
08
10
12: 2
15: 4
16: 2
18: 5
19: 2
20
22
23
24
27
28:2
30: 6
31
33:2
34
35: 2
37:2
39: 2
40
45
51
53
57
60
75
Since incorporation: 2
A while: I
Long time: 1
No answer: 1 1
Life: 1
72 responses
Salary Survey Data November 2006 Page 5 of 5