Salary Commission

As authorized by RCW 35.21.015, in 2005 the City of Kirkland established a Salary Commission to set the salaries of the Mayor and City Council Members. The Salary Commission is made up of three community members who are appointed for staggered terms by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council


Next Salary Commission Meeting 

The Salary Commission is holding a meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. to receive public input and discuss possible adjustments to the salaries of the Mayor and Council Members. The meeting will be conducted in the Kirkland Council Chamber and via Zoom. Members of the public can also call toll free (888) 475-4499.

Zoom Link to the Meeting

Meeting ID: 849-1766-5577

December 5, 2023 Agenda and Packet(PDF, 209KB)

Public comment may be given at the meeting or may be submitted in writing to: Salary Commission c/o City Attorney’s Office at 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 or email kraymond@kirklandwa.gov prior to 5:00 p.m. on December 5, 2023. 

The Salary Commission meets at least once a year, usually during the months of August or September. Meetings start at 5:00 PM.

  Past Meeting Recordings 

Meet the Salary Commissioners

Rachel Pittman, Vice Chair (term expires 3/31/24)

Rachel Pittman, Salary Board Member
Rachel Pittman

Rachel Pittman joined the Salary Commission in April 2022. A recent resident of Kirkland (since 2020), Rachel is excited to participate on the board and contribute to her local community. Rachel's background is in accounting and auditing, with 10 years of experience in auditing and consulting. Her most recent experience was as a Senior Manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and currently in a VP Audit role at a large financial services firm. Rachel aims to use this experience, along with her passion for financial transparency and reporting integrity to her role on the Salary Commission. Rachel graduated from Southern Oregon University with a B.S. in Accounting in 2012. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys reading, playing tennis, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

Greta Climer (term expires 03/31/2026)

Profile information coming soon. 

Lauren Hall-Stigerts, Chair (term expires 3/31/2025)

Lauren Hall-Stigerts, Salary Commission
Lauren Hall-Stigerts

Lauren Hall-Stigerts grew up in Redmond and since 2006 has made Kirkland her home. After receiving her B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior from the University of Washington in 2007; Lauren started her career as an in-house marketer for Seattle software companies. She then transitioned to running an independent software marketing consultancy with an emphasis on digital gaming software. She is on sabbatical raising her two young children while advocating for a vibrant, equitable, and liveable Kirkland. Lauren is honored to serve the people of Kirkland in her role as a Salary Commissioner since March 2022 and is utilizing her background in market research to support the next generation of city council candidates. She enjoys playing the clarinet and saxophone in local bands, appreciating traditional tea, and playing golf with her family.