Ordinance updates compensation for municipal court judges pro tem.

ORDINANCE O-4929
 
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KIRKLAND RELATING TO MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE PRO TEM COMPENSATION; APPROVING UPDATED RATES AND AUTHORIZING COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 3.50.090 and KMC 3.49.040, the compensation for judges pro tem is established by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the current ordinance establishing the judge pro tem compensation rate was enacted in 2008 through Ordinance No. 4166; and
WHEREAS, the salary of the Municipal Court Judge has been increased multiple times since 2008 through cost-of-living adjustments, but the judge pro tem compensation rate has not been increased by Council; and
WHEREAS, the hourly compensation rate for judges pro tem was raised from $60 to $70 effective February 1, 2023, without Council action; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to retroactively approve and adopt the February 1, 2023 increase and to further increase the compensation paid to pro tem judges in order to compensate judges pro tem comparably with other municipal courts.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Kirkland do ordain as follows:
Section 1. Effective February 1, 2023, the compensation for judges pro tem shall not exceed a rate of $70 per hour, to be paid at no less than a three hour minimum. This section shall apply retroactively to February 1, 2023, as if fully in force and effect on that date.
Section 2. Effective April 1, 2026, the compensation for judges pro tem shall not exceed a rate of $75 per hour, to be paid at no less than a three hour minimum.
Section 3. The City Manager may, on an annual basis, administratively approve an increase in judge pro tem compensation based on increases in the cost of living at a percentage not to exceed that of non-represented City employees.
Section 4. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
Section 5. This ordinance shall be in force and effect five days from and after its passage by the Kirkland City Council and publication, as required by law.
Passed by majority vote of the Kirkland City Council in open meeting this 3rd day of March, 2026.
Signed in authentication thereof this 3rd day of March, 2026.
/s/Kelli Curtis, Mayor
/s/Anastasiya Warhol, City Clerk
/s/Darcey Eilers, City Attorney