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3. Ordinance 1517 - Salary Ordinance Amendment - 1st ReadingKalispelle ®.r. Judge Heidi UJ rich t Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406)758-7705 Fax (406)758-7758 REPORT TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Judge Heidi Ulbricht SUBJECT: Salary and yearly adjustment MEETING DATE: November 15, 2004 BACKGROUND: In January 1997 the Kalispell City Court was converted to Kalispell Municipal Court requiring the Judge to be an attorney. A municipal judge must have the same qualifications as a judge of a district court. Further, Kalispell City Ordinance § 2-61 mandates the Judge to be full time and shall not be employed outside the Court. Earlier rhk year the. city- participated in a salary study for nonunion employees. The municipal judge position was not included due to difficulty in comparing elected officials. I have conducted a telephone survey with other courts to have a comparison. Montana District Court* $92,000 Flathead County Justice of Peace $78,000 Billings Municipal Judge* $67,000 Bozeman Municipal Judge* $69,000 Great Falls Municipal Judge* $65,000 Missoula Municipal Judge* $70,000 Kalispell Municipal Judge* $50,000 Whitefish City Judge (part time) $49,000 City of .Kalispell Kalispell City Attorney* $67,000 Kalispell Adjutant Attorney* $57,000 *Required. to be an attorney I am requesting City Council set the Municipal Judge's salary for the term beginning January 1 2005 at $64,000 with a yearly cost of living adjustment. I am making this request early because the opening for election filing is April 20, 2005. It will be necessary for the Council to establish the salary so as the election department can charge the proper riling fee. RECOMMENDATION: Passage of salary ordinance and yearly salary adjustments. FISAL EFFECTS: Unknown. Heidi Ulbricht Municipal Judge 2 ORDINANCE NO. 1517 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1506 WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE KALIS SELL MUNICIPAL JUDGE AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, on the 5th day of February, 2001, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 1379 that set the annual salary of the Kalispell Municipal Judge at S48,000 with an annual cost of living increase each year thereafter; and WHEREAS, other than the annual cost of living increase, the Kalispell Municipal Judge has received no salary increase since the adoption of Ordinance No. 1379 and now receives an annual salary of $50,000; and WHEREAS, pursuant to state law the person holding the position of municipal judge must possess the qualifications of a law degree and membership in the state bar for a minimum number of years and pursuant to City ordinance must work full-time in the position and bold no other employment; and WHEREAS, the current annual salary of the Kalispell Municipal Judge is significantly less than the annual salaries received by other municipal judges in the State of Montana and less than the Kalispell City Attorney and Adjutant Attorney; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City that the Kalispell Municipal Judge be paid an annual salary that is competitive and that adequately compensates the position for the education and experience that it requires. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, MONTANA, AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I . Ordinance No. 1506 shall be and is hereby amended to pay the position of Kalispell Municipal Judge the annual salary of $64,000 plus the annual cost of living increase as currently set by Ordinance. SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall become effective on January 1, 2005 and no sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of its final passage and approval . PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR THIS DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2004. Pamela B. Kennedy Mayor Attest: Theresa White City Clerk