Gig Harbor council approves relocation assistance policy for select new hires

The Gig Harbor City Council on Feb. 25, 2025, adopted Resolution 13-30, establishing a relocation assistance policy for select new employees. The resolution passed unanimously, 7-0.

Human resources and administrative staff presented the policy as a limited, discretionary benefit intended to help the city recruit hard-to-fill positions. Shannon Constantini, identified in the meeting materials as the staff member presenting the item, said a modest relocation allowance helps “attract high caliber talent from outside the immediate area” and that the policy aligns with public-sector best practices. The policy as discussed includes a not-to-exceed payment of $5,000 and defines eligibility using a 100-mile minimum distance from the hire’s prior residence.

Council member questions focused on that 100-mile threshold. One council member asked whether the radius is typical and whether a shorter distance (for example, 50 or 75 miles) might be more appropriate; Constantini replied that many jurisdictions use a radius standard and that staff selected 100 miles as a market-based balance to limit cost while remaining competitive for candidates who would not reasonably commute daily.

Council moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by unanimous vote. No public comments were offered on the item at the meeting. Staff described the policy as discretionary and intended for specialized or hard-to-fill positions; no specific budget line item or projected annual cost was provided at the meeting.