Council approves three-person salary commission

The Monroe City Council confirmed Mayor Geoffrey Thomas' recommendations for the Monroe Salary Commission, appointing three members of the Monroe community to serve. The new commissioners were sworn in during the council's meeting on Tuesday, May 5, at Monroe City Hall.

"I'm very happy to say that we had three qualified individuals submit their applications,GÇ¥ Thomas said. "We interviewed them and determined that they, indeed, were qualified to serve in the positions.GÇ¥

Erin Angus-Snapka, who previously served on the Monroe School District's 2014 Capital Facilities Steering Committee, was appointed to a one-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2015. Dave Van Kirk was appointed to a two-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2016, and Brian Coonan was appointed to a three-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2017. -á

The Monroe City Council requested that city staff look into the formation of a salary commission back in November. The matter was further vetted by the Finance and Human Resources Committee in December, and in January 2015, the council adopted an ordinance to guide the structure of the commission and outline its responsibilities. The ordinance stipulates a five-member commission, but the city decided to proceed with three members for the time being, since having three members satisfies the requirement for a quorum.-á

The city is still trying to fill the final two salary commissioner positions.-á

The new commission will set the salaries for Monroe's elected officials, including the mayor and the members of the council. It will begin reviewing the current salaries within 90 days of the appointment.-á

According to the Municipal Research and Services Center, at least 35 Washington cities have adopted a salary commission.-á

One of the key benefits to adopting a salary commission is that any salary adjustments affect all members of the council, regardless of their term of office. Currently, Monroe Municipal Code outlines two separate pay structures for the members of the City Council: one for councilpersons elected to a term commencing on Jan. 1, 2014 or later, and another for councilpersons elected to terms commencing prior to Jan. 1, 2014.-á

This is due to state law, which precludes any member of the council from voting on their own pay increase. When council compensation was reviewed and updated in October 2013, it transitioned from a per-meeting payment structure of $100 per meeting with a maximum of $400 per month, to a flat monthly rate of $600 per month ' a raise that was only available to members of the council who were either newly elected or reelected in the November 2013 election.-á

Prior to October 2013, council compensation had not been adjusted since 1999.-á

The mayor's salary, a fixed rate of $3,000 per month, was not discussed or adjusted in 2013.

One of the ideas behind increasing council compensation was to attract more qualified candidates during election time. During the 2013 election, Councilmember Patsy Cudaback ran unopposed. This fall, four seats will be up for reelection: Position 4, which is currently occupied by Councilmember Jim Kamp; Position 5, currently held by Councilmember Ed Davis; Position 6, currently held by Councilmember Jason Gamble; and the at-large seat, which is held by Councilmember Kurt Goering.-á

Goering is the only councilmember not eligible for reelection due to the city's eight-year council member term limit.

The city's at-large seat is the only seat on the Monroe City Council that serves for a two-year term. All other seats are four-year terms. -á

Filing week in Snohomish County will run through Friday, May 15. For more information on filing for candidacy, visit snohomishcountywa.gov/224/Elections-Voter-Registration.To apply for one of the city's remaining salary commission positions, visit www.monroewa.gov/index.aspx?nid=416. -á

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