Bellevue's search for a new set of eyes on city council paychecks just got extended. The quest for candidates to form an Independent Salary Commission, aimed at reviewing and setting the salaries for the city's councilmembers, now has a bit more time on the clock. The City Council announced an extension to 5 p.m., Monday, May 13, for willing volunteers from the community to step up and apply for a spot on the team.
The last time Bellevue's council members had their earnings re-evaluated was almost eight years ago, back in 2016. Following the adoption of Ordinance No. 6306 on Aug. 1 of that year, an independent body was put together which took on the task of scrutinizing council pay. This previous commission sifted through the data and laid down new salary figures, which were then filed with the city clerk.
Those interested in joining the 2024 salary commission will be under the spotlight, as the mayor plans to appoint five community volunteers with the council’s nod of approval. The freshly created commission will have the responsibility of reviewing salaries and compensation for council members, as well as Bellevue's mayor and deputy mayor. Their conclusions must be drawn up and delivered to the city clerk by Dec. 1. Once their task is complete and the paperwork is filed, the commission will dissolve.
There are a few boxes to tick for hopeful candidates—they need to have called Bellevue home for at least a year before appointment and be registered voters within King County. And if they or their immediate families are on the city's payroll in any capacity, they'll need to sit this one out. Diversity is on the city’s wishlist, with a call out to any eligible individual keen to lend their expertise. As per the city announcement, "The City of Bellevue values diversity and encourages any interested eligible person to apply." Interviews are expected to unfold in May, with the city hopeful that applicants come with a background in competitive benchmarking and data analysis specific to compensation or human resource settings.
