Sammamish council approves GMP interim city manager contract after rejecting vacation reduction

Sammamish City Council on June 30 voted 6-1 to authorize the acting city manager to execute a five-month contract with GMP to provide interim city manager services, approving a monthly all‑in fee of $36,409 and rejecting an amendment to reduce the interim’s paid vacation from two weeks to one week.

The contract was presented by Mark Barrett, administrative services director, who told the council the draft incorporated earlier comments and that the monthly fee is all inclusive of the interim’s compensation, consultant fees and some living‑expense costs. Barrett said the selected candidate is affiliated with GMP and that any change to the contract would require GMP and the candidate to renegotiate, which could delay a planned July 6 start date.

The debate centered on cost and continuity. Council member Pamela Stewart questioned the price and called $36,000 a month “exorbitant” compared with what the same individual had received recently in another city; she asked whether an adjusted fee could be offered if vacation were reduced. Amy Lamb, who proposed the amendment to limit paid vacation to one week on account of the short five‑month engagement, said two weeks would noticeably reduce continuity during the contract and argued for fiscal stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Deputy Mayor David Treen and others urged caution about reopening negotiations, noting it might prevent the interim from starting as scheduled. Barrett confirmed that the city could approve an amended contract this evening and, if GMP agreed, execute it; if GMP did not agree, the council would have to reconvene to consider changes.

The amendment to reduce vacation failed on a 5‑2 vote. The council then approved the main motion to direct the acting city manager to enter into the agreement with GMP by a 6‑1 vote. Barrett said the interim is slated to begin on July 6 if the contract is executed; if the city seeks changes and GMP or the candidate declines, the start date would be delayed and the council would need to reconsider the contract.

After the vote, the council moved into a closed session. The meeting also included one public commenter, Paul Stickney of Sammamish, who urged the council to seek bottom‑up community input on housing policy. The council discussed, without taking formal action, a request for the city to sign a letter supporting a golf tournament in Sahali in 2032 and asked staff to ensure the city would not incur unanticipated event‑related costs.