Thank you for your interest in being appointed to one of the two vacancies on the city council. The minimum requirements to qualify for appointment under RCW 35A.12.030 are to be a registered voter of the City of Cle Elum and to have at least 1 year of continuous residency within Cle Elum’s city limits. The procedure for filling council vacancies is detailed in Chapter 8.17 of the City of Cle Elum Operating Policies & Procedures Manual.
Please note that once an application is filed with the City of Cle Elum, it becomes a public record subject to disclosure. The person appointed will serve until the 2027 General Election is certified on November 23, 2027.
City Councilmember Duties and Compensation
The Cle Elum City Council is the legislative authority of the City of Cle Elum. The City operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. The seven-member City Council serves as the City’s legislative body. The Council is responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, adopting laws, determining the services to be provided and the funding levels for those services, and appointing citizens to its advisory boards and commissions.
The duties of a City Councilmember will likely involve an average minimum commitment of 18-20 hours per month for preparation, participation, and attendance at various meetings and community activities. Beyond the broad duties previously mentioned, Councilmember duties include, but are not limited to:
- Attendance at regular City Council meetings, which are held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month. Meetings begin at 6:00 PM and can run until 8:30 PM, occasionally later. The Mayor or Council occasionally calls special Council meetings to address urgent City business. Attendance at Council retreats is also required.
- Councilmembers are expected to participate in two (or more) council committees and regional boards or commissions held on regularly scheduled, generally monthly intervals, and to represent the City Council at various community functions. These meetings and functions can occur before or during business hours and may also occur during the evening or on weekends.
- Some travel is expected locally, regionally, and/or within the State of Washington, involving various organizations of which the City of Cle Elum is a member. Councilmembers may also, at their discretion, travel and attend training, education, and/or participate in other organizations at the local, regional, state, or, in some instances, the national level. Travel, education, and training expenses for local, regional, state, and national activities are reimbursed in accordance with City policy applicable to all employees and City officials, subject to the budgetary limit set for each Councilmember and for the City Council as a whole.
The councilmember salary is $250.00 per month and is reevaluated biennially by an independent Salary Commission.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 25, 2026 at 3:30 PM.