With its recent change in leadership, the Airway Heights City Council is looking at making other changes in the future.
During the Oct. 12 study session, City Manager Albert Tripp presented an elected official salary survey. Staff researched how different Washington cities with council-manager governments compensate their elected officials. Council discussed adjusting the salaries of former Mayor Patrick Rushing in August when they were discussing his representation on committees.
In 2009, Airway Heights increased the salaries of its elected officials. The mayor’s salary went from $500 to $2,000 a month, the deputy mayor from $300 to $750 and council members $300 to $500.
Tripp noted that some communities do not pay council members on a monthly basis. “Some get paid a dollar amount for the meetings they attend,” Tripp said. “Some communities place a maximum. For example, the mayor receives a maximum of $9,000 a year.”
Mayor Kevin Richey brought up how cities similar to Airway Heights in size would elect council members. Council would appoint one of their own members to serve as the ceremonial mayor for two years. He said Airway Heights could conduct a similar practice with electing a ceremonial mayor on a two-year cycle, beginning in 2017. It would be similar to how council selects a deputy mayor.
“That’s all it is, there are no executive responsibilities and no responsibilities other than what they have as a council member,” Richey said. “They receive a little bit more money to serve in that capacity and then council can appoint a new ceremonial mayor on a two-year term.”
Richey said many communities have that practice in their municipal code. He added that council members’ and the deputy mayor’s salaries would remain the same while the mayor would receive $1,000 a month.
“I think everyone would feel more equal that way,” Richey said. “Everyone has the same voice, the same voting rights.”
Richey added that it would not be changing how the government works, just the process for how they appoint a chairperson for the council.
“We have a year and a half to think about it,” Richey said. “This isn’t really a structure change.”
Tripp gave a quarterly report on the city’s 2015-16 goals.
He said the city is behind in its Public Safety objectives. He said the EMS levy is on the Nov. 3 ballot. Staff is working on a proposal to hire another officer at the Police Department.
Tripp said the city has done well in connecting with community and businesses and keeping them informed of what is happening in Airway Heights.
“These goals have been checked complete in a sense that we’ve laid the foundation and framework and we’re going to continue to keep doing that,” he added.
As for quality of life, Tripp said the Kalispel Tribe has agreed to partner with the city on the development for the 70-acre park.
Other discussion items at the study session included:
• Amending Airway Heights Municipal Code regarding medical cannabis standards, preventing collective gardens and non-state licensed dispensaries from being permitted in the city.
• A Community Development Block Grant application for extending the reclaimed water line on Sixth Avenue.
• Appointing James Weathers to the Planning Commission.
• Presentation of the first Business of the Year award at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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