Puyallup Council Salary Commission Meeting - March 12, 2026

The Puyallup Council Salary Commission met on March 12, 2026, at 5:05 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with 4 of 5 commissioners present (Commissioner Veal absent). The meeting was called to order and adjourned at 5:12 PM. The commission re-elected its chair, elected a new vice chair, approved past minutes, and set its 2026 meeting calendar, including a public hearing.

Elections and Approvals

• Election of Chair: Commissioner Stephanie Holmes was re-appointed as Chair by a motion from Holmes and seconded by Commissioner Garg. The motion passed 4-0.
• Election of Vice Chair: Commissioner Ajay Garg was appointed Vice Chair by a motion from Chair Holmes and seconded by Commissioner Garg. The motion passed 4-0.
• Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by a motion from Commissioner Garg, seconded by Commissioner Thomson, passed 4-0.
• Approval of Minutes: The October 28, 2025 minutes were approved by a motion from Chair Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Ruff, passed 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

• Setting the 2026 Meeting Calendar: The commission discussed scheduling two required meetings (per Puyallup Municipal Code) for the remainder of 2026. One meeting must include a public hearing. Commissioners preferred using the October budget study session to inform their decisions. They agreed to hold the first meeting on July 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with a public hearing, and the second meeting on October 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The motion was made by Commissioner Ruff, seconded by Commissioner Thomson, and passed 4-0.
• Staff Report: Administrative Clerk Yessenia Abarca noted that the comparables chart and population update (available after April 1) would be prepared for the July meeting. Staff would conduct outreach to comparable cities before then.

Key Outcomes

• The commission re-elected Stephanie Holmes as Chair and elected Ajay Garg as Vice Chair.
• The 2026 meeting calendar was set: July 29 (public hearing) and October 21, both at 5:00 PM.
• All motions passed unanimously (4-0).
• The next steps include staff preparing comparable city data and publishing the public hearing notice before the July meeting.