In all the Council and Mayor meetings I've watched never once did they deliberate on staff salaries and benefits.
They don't want to cut off the hands that feed them.
They don't want to cut off the hands that feed them.
After the Human Resources Director gave her Pay Plan presentation, Councilmembers Nuevacamina and Kritzer calendared a 12/9 study session. Thank you Council.
2026 Executive Pay Plan not counting, COLA (3.8%), bonuses, merit increases, health insurance, retirement, perks. Staff broke this link on 11/19/25
Effective January 1, 2026. Maximum annual band is quoted. Source for red 2024 bonuses was Public Record Request.
Chief Executive Officer: MAYOR
Chief Operating Officer: $312,579.17 (Runs Office of the Mayor?)
Deputy C.O.O. $273,238. NEW
Deputy Executive Director: $218,863.34 (L.M.) [2024 bonus: $7,776.60]
Council requested an organizational chart. (none on record)
Fire Chief: $273,328.24
Deputy Fire Chief: $244,740.55
Police Chief: $273,328.24
Deputy Police Chief: $244,740.55 [2024 bonus: $23,700,60] Brian Coats, promoted from Captain.
City Attorney: $273,328.24
Deputy City Attorney: $244,740.55
Supervising Attorney: $202,982.98
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (P.P.) $155,857.02 [2024 bonus: $7,204.20]
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (S.S.): [2024 bonus: $3,602.19] OMISSION
Paralegal (NEW): $112,714.38
Total annual salaries, ~$1.1M+$150,000 + benefits
Public Works Director: $255,958.34, (promotion.)
Deputy Public Works Director: $244,832.88
Deputy Public Works Director:
Parks & Recreation Director: $255,958.24 (promotion)
Deputy Parks Director: $218,863.34.
*Second Deputy Parks Directer (D. Tuchek.) - [2024 bonus $7,461.60] OMISSION
Chief Information Officer $247,745.68,
Deputy C.I.O. $224,832.88
[2024 bonus $9,145.99] OMISSION
Finance Director: $247,745.68,
Deputy Finance Director: $218,863.64 [2024 bonus: $5498.13]
Financial Analyst (non-representative)
Human Services Director: $247,745.68
Deputy Human Services Director: $218,863.34
HR Analyst, $140,682.28
HR Generalist (analyst) (NEW) $138,241.91
HR Manager, $171,008.42
Consultant: CabotDow Associates
Total Annual HR Salaries: ~ $890,000 + benefits
Director Planning and Community Development: $247, 745.63 This is an understated salary. Director Carol Helland "runs the government" in a large way. She Chairs the Technical Committee for all projects. She directs 2 deputies, all the Vision 2050 planners, Development project planners, affordable housing and homeless initiatives, human services, has written a white paper on Overlake Village, past president of ARCH, directs code changes and amendments, attends community meetings.
According to a 2024 Public Record Request Director Helland. was not given a bonus or a promotion to a higher band. Whereas, the Director of Parks and Director of Public Works is slated for promotion this year and Director Helland is not.
IMO the Human Resources Director has lost credibility. She calls her job an "art" using union contracts as the starting point for salary and COLA decisions system-wide. Lately, (1/16/26) she says a consultant formulates the Pay Plans.
-- Deputy Director Planning and Community Development: (Sarafi A.) $218,863.34; 2025 Bonus: $10,000. [2024 bonus: $5,647.20]
-- Deputy PCD Director (Planning and Community Development) (Jason L.) Job title and 2025 salary for this position was not quoted in Human Resources original Pay Plan presentation OMISSION. 2025 BONUS: $10,000 [2024 bonus: $9,893,40]
1 CEO, the Mayor
1 COO
2 Chiefs
8 Directors
15 Deputies
4 Attorneys
5 NEW
SOURCES: AM 25-1814 (altered by the city to AM 25-188)
2026 Union Pay Plan not counting health insurance, COLA (3.8%,) merit increases, retirement, and perks and more. (City staff broke this link on 11/19/25)
Effective January 1, 2026. Maximum annual pay band quoted:
For the complete list of "non represented" employees go HERE: (broken link)
City Clerk: $171,088
Assistant City Clerk
Police Captain: $223,697.30
Police Support Civilian Commander, $202,982,98
Police Support: $161,480.77
Police Lieutenants (3) $170,000 - $185,000 Teamsters
Police Sergeant: $161,257.54 ( 2025 Teamsters Local Union No. 117)
Police Corporal: $140.695.24 (2025 Teamsters Local Union)
Police Officer: $122,158.48 (2025 Teamsters Local Union) mid-point
City Engineer Manager: $211,794.58
City Engineer: $211,794.58
Security Compliance Manager: $211,794.58
Chief Policy Advisor: $202,982.98
Supervising Attorney: $202,982,98.
Construction Manager $180.412. 01
Managers (16) Parks, Finance, Utilities ($189,811.79) Emergency Preparedness, Project Management Office Manager ($202,982,98) Planning $189,966,78) and more.
Supervisors (12) Attorney: $202,982,98. In general: $138K - $180K
Paralegal: $112,714.38 (NEW)
DEI Program Advisor, $140,684.20 (Position moved to the Executive Department.)
Behavioral Health Professional, $132,248.11
Administrative Assistants (secretaries): $70,758,38, (minimum annual band) $83,141 (mid-point annual band) $95,524 (maximum annual band)
SOURCE, AM 25-1814. Council Business Meeting Agenda, 11/18/2025. (altered to AM 25-188; link broken by staff on 11/19/25.)
| AM No. 25-188 These links were broken by staff on 11/19/25 |
| Type: | Staff Report | Status: | Agenda Ready |
| File created: | 10/29/2025 | In control: | City Council |
| On agenda: | 11/18/2025 (compensation subject to Council approval.) | Final action: |
| Title: | Proposed Updates to the 2026 Pay Plans |
THIS NOTE WAS SENT TO MAYOR/COUNCIL ON 1/4/26:
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I've been carefully following your Executive Pay Plan approval process and noticed some irregularities. I hope you will review them on the consent agenda before you take action:
The Director of Planning and Community Development (Helland) has two Deputy Directors, not one. The PCD deputy (Planning and Community Development) is listed as a deputy. His name is Jason Lynch and plays a very significant role in city development. Seraphi Allan, the Deputy Director of Planning is omitted in your Pay Plan. Both deputies received some of the largest bonuses in 2025.
Though the Police and Fire Chiefs are not "Executives" they are crucial to the welfare of the people. May I suggest a dotted line on the Org chart? (The Deputy Fire Director moved up 2 bands on the Pay Plan.)
It's interesting to note the value HR places on the Communication Information Officer (CIO.) According to the Plan, the CIO has a maximum salary of $247,746. The CIO has a deputy paid a maximum of $224,832. Will you discuss the connection between Safety and the CIO?
The Parks and Rec. Director moved up one band and has two deputies, not one. Dave Tuchek is the deputy running the capital side of Parks; the other deputy runs the recreational side. One of the deputies is omitted in your Plan.
Of note: 4 attorney positions are reduced to 2 positions. 1) The City attorney moved up a band to the Assistant COO level ($273,328.) 2) The Deputy City attorney moved up 2 bands ($224,832.)
HR hired 196 FTE's in 2025. Could you list the new executive hires on a space in the Org chart?
Could you fill in the skeletal Org. chart with the deputies? Currently, you have 11 deputies averaging a maximum $225,000. The Mayor says they are vital.
Thank you for your consideration and all the work you do. I hope the Org. chart will help the new councilmembers.