Portland City Council recently approved five commissioners and two alternates with human resources expertise to the City of Portland’s first Salary Commission. The new independent commission will focus on setting pay for Portland’s elected officials that will play a key role in implementing voter-approved changes to Portland’s election system and form of government.
The commission will work to uphold the City’s core values and the Charter Commission’s desired outcomes and consider how to recruit interest of people who have not traditionally been elected to city council or to the mayor’s office in the electoral process.
The five human resource professionals named to Portland’s first salary commission are (alphabetical by last name):
- Abby Engers
- Rosanna Gill
- Joni Marie Johnson
- Rut Martinez-Alicea
- Laura Sampson
Alternate members were also appointed and will stand ready to move into a commission role if any of the appointed commissioners are unable to fulfill their duties. Alternates can participate in the discussion activities of the commission, but they cannot vote. The new alternate members are (alphabetical by last name):
- Maura Cooney
- Emily Medress
The commission’s next meeting is Tuesday, April 11, 6-8 p.m.
Bureau of Human Resources to provide technical expertise
Guided by Portland’s Bureau of Human Resources, the commissioners will research and establish salaries for 12 elected councilors, the mayor, and the auditor in the new government structure.
After determining research methodology, conducting public meetings, and asking Portlanders for their opinions, the salary commission will adopt the recommended pay for councilors, the mayor, and the auditor with yes votes from at least three commissioners. The basis for the decision will be documented.
Adjusted salaries will take effect on July 1 of each odd year — except for the first commission’s salary decisions, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. For this first round, salaries will be adopted by Aug. 1, 2023.
To accomplish this mandate, the Salary Commission will:
- Host public meetings between March and August.
- Engage Portlanders about draft salary proposals before adoption.
- Make recommendations about the methodology of setting salaries for future salary commissions to consider.
Going forward, a new salary commission will be appointed every two years to evaluate and set the salaries for all elected positions in Portland.
Salary commission meeting schedule
April: Build foundation and determine methodology to set salaries
Tue., April 11, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #2
Thu., April 27, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #3 (Public Comment)
May: Research, analysis, initial recommendations
Tue., May 9, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #4 (Public comment)
Tue., May 23, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #5 (Public comment)
Tue., May 30, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #6 (Extended public comment)
June: Release draft salary proposal
Tue., June 13, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #7 (Public comment)
Thu., June 15: Draft proposal released, public engagement begins
Tue., June 27, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #8 (Extended public comment)
July: Revise and vote
Mon., July 10: Public engagement on draft proposal ends
Tue., July 11, 6-8 p.m. Commission meeting #9 (Vote)
Tue., July 25, 6-8 p.m. Commission Meeting #10 (Second vote if needed)
August: Evaluation
Tue., August 22, 6-9 p.m. Commission meeting #11