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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD. NO. 2026-026 amend YMC 2.20.060_salariesORDINANCE NO. 2026-026 AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 2.20.060. WHEREAS, the City Manager should be given discretion to alter standard pay raises in cases where there is a shortage of experienced candidates for the position, or positions requiring increased education or expertise; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima determines that it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to provide flexibility to the City Manager and amend Section 2.20.060 of the Yakima Municipal Code to do so; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Section 2.20.060 Transfer, promotion, demotion, reinstatement or termination of employees is hereby amended to read as follows. 2.20.060 Transfer, promotion, demotion, reinstatement or termination of employees. A. When an employee is transferred, promoted, demoted or reinstated, the employee's rate of pay for the new position shall be determined as follows: 1. Transfer. An employee transferred to another position in the same pay range will continue to receive the same rate of pay until the employee is promoted or demoted. 2. Promotion. An employee promoted to a position having a higher pay range shall receive a salary increase as follows: a. If the employee's rate of pay in the lower paying position is below the minimum salary of the higher class, the employee's rate of pay shall be increased to the minimum rate of the higher paying position, or as otherwise directed by the City Manager. b. If the employee's rate of pay in the lower paying position falls within the range of pay for the higher paying position, the employee shall be advanced to the pay step in the higher range which is next higher in amount above the employee's pay before promotion, or as otherwise directed by the City Manager. c. In the case of promotion, within -range increases shall be granted in accordance with YMC 2.20.040(2). 3. Demotion. An employee demoted from a position to another position having a lower pay range shall receive a salary decrease. (a) If the rate of pay of the employee in the higher paying position is above the maximum salary for the lower paying position, the employee's rate of pay will be decreased to the maximum rate of the lower paying position. 1 (b) If the rate of pay of the employee in the higher paying position is within the pay range of the lower paying position, the employee's rate of pay shall be reduced to the next lower. B. Severance. When an employee is terminated by the city manager, the city council grants authority to the city manager, at his or her option, to authorize a payment to the terminated city employee of lump sum severance pay equal to up to four months of the employee's base salary as full and complete payment and satisfaction of any claims of the employee arising out of his or her employment. The city manager is granted the authority to determine the specific amount of the severance payment; provided, however, it shall not exceed four months of the employee's base salary without the specific consent of the city council. Any lurnp sum severance payment is subject to normal payroll withholding taxes. As consideration for such severance payment, the employee shall, prior to receipt of the payment, execute and deliver to the city a general release of the city of Yakima and its elected and appointed officers, employees and agents for all acts and actions (whether accrued or subsequently accruing) from the beginning of employment until the date of release, said release to be prepared by the city attorney or his or her designee. Although the city manager has the option to authorize a severance payment under the terms of this section, the city manager is not required to authorize a severance payment to an employee who has been terminated. (Ord. 2014-023 § 2 (part), 2014: Ord. 2013-029 § 1, 2013: Ord. 1831 § 1, 1975: Ord. 1614 § 2, 1974: Ord. 194 § 6, 1960). Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 7th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: salinda Ibarra, CMC, City Clerk Publication Date: July 11, 2026 Effective Date: August 10, 2026 2 Matt Brown, Mayor BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 7.M. For Meeting of: July 7, 2026 ITEM TITLE: Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 2.20.060 Salaries SUBMITTED BY: Lisa Garcia, Human Resources Director SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Section 2.20.060 of the Yakima Municipal Code currently provides no flexibility when the City Manager promotes employees. The proposed changes would provide the City Manager with the authority to allow employees who are promoted to start at an appropriate pay amount commiserate with their skills and experience, similar to what the City Manager is allowed to do when hiring employees from outside the agency. ITEM BUDGETED: No STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Resilient Yakima RECOMMENDATION: Pass Ordinance. ATTACHMENTS: Ord -Amending YMC 2.20.060_redline.pdf Ord -Amending YMC 2.20.060_Final.doc 95