Chapter 2.10
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Sections:
2.10.010 Limiting councilmembers to serving two consecutive four-year terms.
2.10.015 Term limits for office of mayor.
2.10.020 Optional donation of salary.
2.10.030 Councilmember salary.
2.10.060 Routine property conveyances.
2.10.010 Limiting councilmembers to serving two consecutive four-year terms.
No person shall be allowed to serve in any position on the city council for more than two consecutive four-year terms; provided, that this prohibition shall not disqualify any person now serving on the city council from completing the term of office that he or she has been elected to serve as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter or prohibit a person from serving two consecutive four-year terms following the person’s completion of a partial term in the event he or she was appointed to fill a vacant position on the city council. This prohibition shall not disqualify a person from serving again on the city council after a break in service of at least two years. (Ord. 23-648(A) § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 15-433 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 97-58 § 1).
2.10.015 Term limits for office of mayor.
No person shall be allowed to serve in the office of mayor for more than two consecutive four-year terms; provided, this prohibition shall not disqualify any person serving as mayor as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section from completing the term of office that he or she has been elected to serve or from running for, and serving if so elected, one additional four-year term or prohibit a person from serving two consecutive four-year terms following the person’s completion of a partial term in the event he or she was appointed to fill a vacant position as mayor. This prohibition shall not disqualify a person from serving again in the office of mayor after a break in service as mayor of at least four years, or from serving on the city council at least two years after serving as mayor. (Ord. 23-648(A) § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 20-585 § 1).
2.10.020 Optional donation of salary.
A city elected official may voluntarily donate to the city all or any part of the elected official’s salary in accordance with this section. Upon receiving a salary payment, an elected official wishing to donate all or part of such payment to the city shall remit the same to the city clerk accompanied by a written statement declaring the elected official’s donative intent. The city clerk is hereby authorized to accept any such donation on behalf of the city. (Ord. 15-447 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 15-433 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 09-324 § 1).
2.10.030 Councilmember salary.
The salary of city councilmembers is hereby increased from $250.00 per month to $500.00 per month; provided, that said increase shall not be applicable to the term then being served by any incumbent councilmember as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. This section shall be construed in accordance with all applicable provisions of state law, including without limitation Article 11, Section 8 of the Washington Constitution and RCW 35A.12.070. (Ord. 15-433 § 1 (Exh. A)).
2.10.040 Mayor salary.
Pursuant to Chapter 35A.12 RCW, the salary of the mayor is hereby established at the rate of $5,137 per month. (Ord. 16-471 § 1; Ord. 15-433 § 1 (Exh. A)).
2.10.050 Salary commission.
There is created and established an independent salary commission.
A. Purpose, Function and Construction. The salary commission shall review and establish the salaries of the mayor and the councilpersons and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties set forth by RCW 35.21.015, as now existing or hereafter amended, and this section. The provisions of this section shall be construed in accordance with RCW 35.21.015.
B. Membership, Appointment, Compensation and Term.
1. The commission shall consist of five members, to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council.
2. A member of the commission shall serve for a three-year term without compensation, and shall be a resident of the city. Initial terms shall be staggered with two members appointed for terms beginning upon their appointment in August and ending December 31, 2017; two members appointed for terms beginning upon their appointment and ending December 31, 2018; and one member appointed for a term beginning upon his or her appointment and ending December 31, 2019.
3. No member of the commission shall be appointed to more than two terms, whether consecutive or otherwise.
4. A member of the commission shall not be an officer, official, or employee of the city or an immediate family member of an officer, official, or employee of the city. For purposes of this section, “immediate family member” means the parents, spouse, siblings, children, or dependent relatives of an officer, official, or employee of the city, whether or not living in the household of the officer, official, or employee.
C. Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of commissioner, the mayor shall appoint, subject to approval of the city council, a person to serve the unexpired portion of the vacant position’s term.
D. Removal. A member of the commission shall only be removed from office for cause of incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, or for a disqualifying change of residence.
E. Duties – Adjustment of Salaries.
1. The commission shall review the salaries paid by the city to the mayor and city council. If after such review the commission determines that the salary paid to the mayor or city council should be increased or decreased, the commission shall file a written salary schedule with the city clerk indicating the increase or decrease in salary.
2. The commission shall convene and complete its first review of the salaries paid to the mayor and city council within 90 days of the appointment of the commission. Should the commission determine that the salary paid to the mayor or city council should be increased or decreased, the commission shall file its initial schedule of salaries for the mayor and city council with the city clerk no later than the ninety-first day following the appointment of the commission.
3. For subsequent years, the commission shall meet no less than one time per year, with at least one meeting occurring during the month of August.
4. All meetings of the commission shall be governed by the Open Public Meetings Act and shall be open to the public except as otherwise allowed under that Act. Members of the public shall have an opportunity to comment or submit comments in writing prior to a commission vote to increase or decrease salaries.
5. Any increase or decrease in salary shall become effective and incorporated into the city budget without further action of the city council or the commission.
6. Salary increases established by the commission shall be effective as to the mayor and all council members, regardless of their terms of office.
7. Salary decreases established by the commission shall not be effective as to an incumbent mayor and council members until the commencement of their next term of office.
8. Any adjustment of salary by the commission shall supersede any city ordinance related to the budget or fixing of salaries, but only to the extent of a conflict.
9. Existing salaries for the mayor and council members established by city ordinance and/or city budget prior to the effective date of this section shall remain in effect unless and until changed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The terms and conditions of the commission’s adopted salary schedule will remain in effect until amended under the terms and conditions of a new salary schedule filed in accordance with this chapter.
10. The commission shall adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings. Such rules shall make provision for the taking of minutes and keeping of commission records, and shall provide for the election of such officers as are deemed necessary by the commission for the conduct of its business.
F. Referendum Measures.
1. Salary increases and decreases shall be subject to referendum petition by the people of the city in the same manner as a city ordinance upon filing of such petition with the city clerk within 30 days after filing of the salary schedule. In the event of the filing of a valid referendum petition, the salary increase or decrease shall not go into effect until approved by vote of the people.
2. Referendum measures under this section shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next following general or municipal election occurring 30 days or more after the petition is filed, and shall be otherwise governed by the provisions of the state Constitution or laws generally applicable to referendum measures.
G. Employee Compensation Recommendations. Separate from and independent of the other provisions of this section, the city council may from time to time direct the commission to review the salary and/or benefits provided to city employees and to make recommendations to the council regarding the same. Any such recommendations shall be advisory only, shall not be subject to referendum, and shall not bind the council in any manner whatsoever. (Ord. 19-559 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 16-470 § 1 (Exh. A)).
2.10.060 Routine property conveyances.
The mayor is authorized to accept, on behalf of the city of Edgewood, conveyances to the city of utility easements, recreation/open space easements, conservation easements (including, but not limited to, native growth protection easements), trail and nonmotorized easements, construction easements, ingress and egress easements for access and for maintenance of streams and stormwater management and other facilities, rights-of-way dedications, and other property rights transfers of a similar character and nature. (Ord. 21-607 § 1).