Salary and Benefits Resolution

Briefing & Introduction

November 10, 2020

Item Number: 10c_supp

Meeting Date: November 10, 2020

Topics to Cover

• Background of the Salary and Benefits Process

• Recommended Updates and Changes

Background

• State law authorizes Commission to establish salaries and

benefits via Resolution

• Covers non-represented employees

• Includes delegation of authority not included elsewhere

• Incorporates changes for 2021 that will amend the Salary and

Benefits Policy Directive

Recommended Updates & Changes

• New Paid Holiday

– Add Juneteenth as a Port-paid holiday

• Pay Range Adjustment

– Annual adjustment to the current Salary Ranges

• Internal Audit Director’s Position Description Update

– Updated to reflect the dual reporting capacity to the Commission

(delegated to the Audit Committee) and the Executive Director

• Definition Update

– Add a new definition for “Project-related Temporary Assignment”

New Holiday

Add June 19

as a Port paid holiday in observation of Juneteenth

– Juneteenth, otherwise known as Black Independence Day, commemorates the

day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas heard the news of their

freedom, two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation

Proclamation. It is currently observed in all but three states in the U.S.

– This year, a bill was introduced in the Washington State House of Representatives

proposing to make Juneteenth an official state paid holiday and would also

formally recognize February as Black History Month. There is also a possibility

that it may become a nationally recognized official paid holiday at the federal

level.

Position Description Update

SECTION 5.1.A(3) Policy Establishing Jobs, Pay Grades, Pay Ranges, and Pay Rates.

• (3) Internal Audit Director. The commission, through the Audit Committee, oversees the

internal audit function. The Internal Audit Director reports functionally to the Commission,

delegated to the Audit Committee, and administratively to the Executive Director. The Audit

Committee is charged with making recommendations to the commission on the

appointment, replacement, or dismissal of the Internal Audit Director; provides input to the

Executive Director on the Internal Audit Director’s performance evaluation; oversees the

Internal Audit Director’s plans and activities; and reviews with the Internal Audit Director

the staffing and organizational structure of the internal audit function. The Internal Audit

Director will have direct accountability to both the Commission (through the Audit

Committee) and the Executive Director and will independently execute judgment on internal

audit affairs based on the scope of the audit function. The internal audit department staff

will report to the Internal Audit Director.

Pay Range Adjustment

• Recommending a 2.0% range adjustment to maintain competitive

ranges

– 2020 salary ranges are within 1% of market

– Market data is indicating a 2.8% average adjustment for both public and private

employers

• Costs associated with the range adjustment are minimal

– Fewer than 15 employees affected

– Estimated cost is approximately $13,000

• City of Seattle minimum wage for 2020 is $16.69

– No Port grade minimums will be less after the adjustment

Definition Update

Add a definition for a new type of temporary assignment

– Project-related Temporary Assignment

• An assignment for a full-time or part-time employee that is generally

expected to last no longer than four years. Extensions to these types of

assignments are only allowed in special circumstances with approval from

Human Resources management.

Conclusion

Questions?