A. The committee shall have the duty to review the salaries paid by the city to the mayor, deputy mayor, and city council. If after such review the committee determines that the salary paid to the mayor, deputy mayor, or city council should be increased or decreased, the committee shall file a written salary schedule with the city clerk indicating the increase or decrease in salary.

B. For purposes of this chapter, “salary” or “salaries” means any fixed compensation paid or provided for work or services and includes, but is not limited to, wages and medical or other benefits. This definition expressly excludes any expenses paid or reimbursed on behalf of the mayor, deputy mayor, or council member for training and travel expenses.

C. Every even calendar year the committee shall complete its review and file its schedule of salaries for the mayor, deputy mayor, and city council with the city clerk’s office within 90 days of convening. The 90-day review time schedule may be extended upon request by the committee and approval by the city council.

D. Meetings may be scheduled by the chair of the committee or by a majority vote of the committee. Meetings shall be conducted at Bothell City Hall. All three committee members must be present in order for the committee to conduct business.

E. All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public. Prior to a committee vote to increase or decrease salaries, at least one of the meetings shall include a public hearing to provide an opportunity for the public, the mayor, deputy mayor, and/or city council members to address the committee in person or by public written comment.

F. The decision to raise or lower salaries requires an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the whole membership of the committee.

G. Any increase or decrease in salary shall become effective on January 1st of the following year and be incorporated into the city budget without further action of the city council or the committee.

H. Salary increases established by the committee shall be effective as to all city elected officials, regardless of their terms of office.

I. Salary decreases established by the committee shall become effective as to incumbent city elected officials at the commencement of their next subsequent terms of office.

J. Any adjustment of salary by the committee shall supersede any city ordinance related to the budget or to the fixing of salaries. (Ord. 2394 § 11, 2023; Ord. 2302 § 4, 2019; Ord. 2009 § 1, 2009).