The City of Renton has released a public notice calling for volunteers who would serve on a “Pro/Con Committee” which would come together to address Renton Initiative Measure No. 23-02, which would raise the minimum wage in Renton to over $19 per hour,and any “potential positive and negative impacts of an ordinance that would increase the minimum wage in the City of Renton.”

The deadline for volunteers to submit the form is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

On Nov. 20, the advocacy group Raise the Wage Renton wrote a letter to the Renton City Council, urging the council members to pass the proposed ordinance by a council vote without alteration in the coming weeks.

“This decision would save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars by avoiding a costly special election and would send an important message to voters that their council governs in accordance with the will of their constituents and the community at large,” Raise the Wage Renton wrote in a letter to the Renton City Council.

A press release from the City of Renton said that since it is a voter-initiated measure, the ordinance could either be adopted by the Renton City Council, or sent out for a public vote in the Special Election on Feb. 14, 2024.

“If the issue goes to a public vote, the pro and con committees will draft statements in support or opposition of the proposed ordinance. These would appear in the King County Elections voters’ pamphlet to assist voters with fully understanding the issue. Drafting these pro and con statements must be completed no later than December 19, 2023,” said the press release.

The committees are limited to three named individuals each, but committees may seek the advice of others. For appointment to a committee, residents, employees or business owners in the City of Renton are preferred.

In 2015, the city of SeaTac landed a historic win as it became the first city in the United States to adopt a $15 minimum wage law. That same year, Seattle followed suit and enacted its own minimum wage increase. In 2022, the city of Tukwila passed a minimum wage ordinance mandating a $19 minimum wage, receiving widespread support with over 80 percent of the vote.

Just this year, the King County Council proposed a near-identical $19 minimum wage ordinance for unincorporated King County and county contracted employees.

Those interested in applying for the committee can submit an application or call 425-430-6502 to be sent the application form. The form can be also be found at forms.rentonwa.gov/Forms/ProConApplication.

To read the initiative, visit raisethewagerenton.org/read-the-initiative.