Bothell salary commission reviews council survey, plans candidate interviews and questions on stipend, equity and retirement

Members of the Bothell Salary Commission spent a study-session meeting reviewing open-ended survey responses from council members and agreed on next steps to conduct follow-up interviews and refine questions. Commissioners were told five of seven council members had responded to the survey and that the most common items named were increased salary (three of five respondents), a low-income stipend (two) and childcare assistance (two).

The commission decided to hold a preparatory discussion before interviewing the council members and to invite the two respondents who are available next week to a joint interview. Commissioners discussed beginning the study-session an hour earlier to finalize interview questions, then starting the interviews at 6 p.m.; suggested interview lengths ranged from 20 to 45 minutes with a plan to allot about 45 minutes if both interviewees attend together. Staff said they would notify the interviewees whether the meeting will be held in person or remotely.

Commissioners emphasized protecting confidentiality around the written survey responses while noting that any written responses are public records…