At the November 13 meeting, the Salary Commission made a decision for consideration at a public hearing to be held at a special meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 5:00 p.m.
The Mountlake Terrace Salary Commission is an independent body of five Mountlake Terrace residents who review and set the salaries of the Mayor and City Council. The City Council’s salary was last adjusted in 2001.
Currently Mountlake Terrace City Councilmembers receive $800 per month and the Mayor receives $1,000 per month. The Council has an average of four meetings scheduled per month, and have 52 meetings or more per year. Additional responsibilities include review of meeting materials, attending community events and trainings, and serving on city and intergovernmental boards.
After reviewing what other cities pay elected officials, the Commission has recommended a $100 per month increase for the Mayor and Councilmembers beginning in 2020. The pay would increase by 2% annually beginning in 2021 through 2024.
The Salary Commission is comprised of five residents including three men and two women. “The Commission has a nice mix of backgrounds both personally and professionally,” stated Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen. “One Commissioner has been a candidate for City Council, another is the spouse of a former Councilmember, and two others have volunteered on city commissions and task forces over the years.”
If you would like to testify and cannot attend the meeting, please send an email or letter to City Hall by the deadline for the Commission to consider. Written testimony can be sent via email to cityhall@ci.mlt.wa.us or via mail or hand delivery to Mountlake Terrace City Hall, 6100 219th Street SW #200, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. All testimony must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 to be considered.
More information on the Mountlake Terrace Salary Commission is available at www.cityofmlt.com/2036. Additionally, the Commission cancelled their November 27 meeting due to the Thanksgiving holiday the following day.
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