Title
Worker's Bill of Rights and Minimum Wage Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a Committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss the scope, community engagement process, and communications strategies for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the scope, community engagement process, and communications strategies for Council to consider an ordinance to address minimum wage.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, City Manager's Office, 360.753.8046.
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
In 2015, City Councilmember Jim Cooper put forward to the City Council the topic of a policy framework for increasing the minimum wage in Olympia, with the intent to catalyze a regional conversation on workplace wages, sick and safe leave, and predictability of schedule. Demographic data was presented, and a draft ordinance developed; however, the City Council did not at the time take formal action.
Shortly after the COVID 19 pandemic, a regional coalition of stakeholders came together to address economic response and recovery for Thurston County, subsequently developing a 24-month plan including strategies to address major economic stability challenges exposed by the pandemic. As a next step, the City of Olympia embarked on developing its own strategies to address local economic opportunity and resiliency. Know, as Olympia Strong, the resulting strategies were accepted by City Council on September 10, 2024, as the City's role and priorities for creating and maintaining economic opportunity for a broader cross-section of the community.
Through widespread community member, partner organization, and economic sector engagement, Olympia Strong identified the greatest persisting economic challenges for individuals; among them were housing instability, increased cost of living, limited upward mobility, affordable workforce housing,...
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