City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 14, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing on an Ordinance to Increase the Hourly Wage Rate for Service Contracts (Living Wage) From $14.13 Per Hour to $15.00 Per Hour Beginning in FY 2019.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to increase the hourly wage rate for service contracts (living wage) from $14.13 per hour to $15.00 per hour beginning in FY 2019.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council will hold a public hearing on Saturday, April 14 and second reading and final passage on Thursday, May 3. The new Living Wage rate will be effective July 1, 2019.
BACKGROUND: In 2000, Council adopted a living wage policy for employees of companies awarded competitively bid service contracts performed on City property. The City's policy also applies that living wage to all City employees. Prior to FY 2010, to determine the dollar level of the living wage to be paid, a formula was established that used Bureau of Labor Statistics and Health and Human Services indices. As these indices were recalculated annually, they impacted the City's living wage dollar levels. In 2001, the living wage was $8.70 per hour and by FY 2009 it had increased to $13.13 per hour. The City Council adopted Ordinance Number 5459 in
FY 2017 to increase the living wage rate to $14.13 per hour.
DISCUSSION: The FY 2019 Proposed Budget includes funding sufficient to increase the living wage for service contracts and City employees by $0.87 per hour, increasing the City's living wage from $14.13 to $15.00 per hour. The proposed ordinance would repeal Ordinance Number 5459, which set the living wage at $14.13; continue to not utilize the use of the living wage formula described in City Code Section 3-3-31.1; and increase the effective living wage to $15.00 per hour...
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