To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: DIANE STRICKFADEN, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
TITLE
title
AMEND THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR THE POSITIONS OF MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBER, CITY CLERK AND CITY TREASURER
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3320-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 2-3.905 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE MAYOR FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3321-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 2-3.906 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3322-26, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 2-3.902 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE CITY CLERK FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3323-26 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 2-3.903 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE CITY TREASURER FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Under the City Charter, the salary for elected officials must be set at least 30 days prior to the nomination period for a new four-year term. It cannot be increased or decreased from that point until the completion of the subsequent four-year term. The filing period for the March 2027 election will open on November 9, 2026. Therefore, adjustments to salaries, if any, must be codified in an adopted ordinance no later than October 6, 2026.
At their meeting on September 8, 2026, the City Council reviewed the salary of the Mayor, City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer positions and considered recommendations from the Budget and Finance Commission. During the meeting, the City Council discussed the need to ensure the salaries are appropriately set to attract a broad and competitive candidate pool for the positions and that they do not discourage prospective candidates given the time commitment that is required to effectively perform the duties of each elected role. At the conclusion of the discussion, the City Council directed ordinances be prepared to adjust the salaries of the identified positions at the beginning of their next term. For the District 3 and 5 City Councilmember positions, as well as the City Clerk and City Treasurer positions, new terms start in April 2027. For the Mayor and District 1, 2, and 4 Councilmember positions, the new terms start in April 2029.
The various position’s initial salary adjustments are clarified in the chart below:
|
Position |
From |
To |
Percentage Change |
Effective Date |
|
Mayor |
$1669.16/mo |
$2003.00/mo |
20% |
April 1, 2029 |
|
City Council (District 3 & 5) |
$1669.16/mo |
$2003.00/mo |
20% |
April 1, 2027 |
|
City Council (District 1, 2 & 4) |
$1669.16/mo |
$2003.00/mo |
20% |
April 1, 2029 |
|
City Clerk |
$11,540.35/mo |
$12,694.40/mo |
10% |
April 1, 2027 |
|
City Treasurer |
$2083.33/mo |
$2291.68/mo |
10% |
April 1, 2027 |
As was noted during the September 8 discussion, adjustments of Mayor and Councilmember salaries are regulated statewide by SB 329 and Government Code Section 36516. A question was raised regarding specific language in the Government Code that states “No ordinance shall be enacted or amended to provide automatic future increases in salary.” After reviewing this language, the City Attorney’s Office has determined that the 3% adjustments proposed in years 2, 3 and 4 for the future Mayor and City Councilmember terms are not allowed. Accordingly, these adjustments have been removed from the Ordinances prepared for Introduction and first reading. The Ordinances pertaining to City Clerk and Treasurer salaries are unaffected and remain as directed on September 8.
Attached for consideration of introduction and first reading are four proposed ordinances that, if approved, would codify salary adjustments for the City’s elected Mayor, Councilmember, Clerk, and Treasurer positions beginning with each new four-year term.
BACKGROUND
Mayor and City Council Positions:
The compensation and benefits for the Mayor and City Councilmembers is specified in the Municipal Code and established by the City Council via ordinance. Previously, the pay for the Mayor and City Councilmembers had not increased since 2007 and was set at $927.31 per month ($11,127.72 per year). The compensation was reviewed by the City Council biannually between 2008 and 2022 with adjustments last being made in 2022 to $1669.16 per month ($20,030/year). The Mayor and City Council also receive deferred compensation in the amount of 12% of their salary, and the same fringe benefits provided to Management and Confidential employees.
The City Charter requires that any changes to the Mayor or City Council’s salary must be made at least 30 days prior to the nomination period for a new four-year term. Government Code Section 36516 lays out regulations for general law cities regarding how Councilmember salaries may be adjusted. Also, the Redondo Beach City Charter states that Mayor and Council salaries shall be set by ordinance in conformance with the above Government Code section.
Previously, Government Code section 36516 outlined a formula for increases based on population size and limited them to 5% per year based on the date of the last increase. In 2024, the State Legislature amended the Government Code via Senate Bill 329 in order to increase diversity on City Councils statewide, by allowing the Consumer Price Index to be used as an option for making adjustments, in order to keep up with inflation.
As there is an automatic four-year gap between salary adjustments due to the City’s process, the Mayor and Councilmember salaries are eligible to be increased by 20% for the next respective term. At their meeting of September 8, 2026, the City Council directed staff to prepare ordinances to implement increases of 20% for the Mayor and City Council positions as follows:
City Council Districts 3 and 5: 20% increase effective April 1, 2027
Mayor and City Council Districts 1, 2 and 4: 20% increase effective April 1, 2029
The City Council also voted to provide a subsequent 3% increase to the Mayor and Councilmember positions effective years two through four of the upcoming new term. However, as noted above, due to language in Section 5 of Government Code Section 36516, the City Council will have to consider those increases at a future date.
City Clerk Position: The compensation and benefits for the City Clerk was last set via Ordinance 3246-22, which was adopted in 2022. The Ordinance established the City Clerk salary with yearly adjustments from 2023 through 2026. Effective April 1, 2026, the salary has been set at $11,540.35 per month.
The City Charter requires that any changes to the City Clerk’s salary must also be made at least 30 days prior to the nomination period for a new four-year term. It cannot be increased or decreased from that point until the completion of a subsequent four-year term.
The elected City Clerk position is considered a full-time department head position, oversees four full time employees, and is responsible for stand-alone elections, records management, City Council and agency agendas and minutes, administering the Commission appointment process, maintaining the City’s legislative history and several other functions.
At their meeting of September 8, 2026, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance to increase the City Clerk salary by 10% effective April 1 2027 (to $12,694.40/month) with additional 3% increases each year in 2028, 2029, and 2030. Per ordinance, the City Clerk position receives the same benefits as the Management and Confidential Employee Unit. No changes to these benefits are currently being proposed.
City Treasurer Position: On June 3, 2014, the City Council reduced the salary for the City Treasurer position from $9,746 per month ($116,952 annually) to $2083.33 per month ($25,000 annually) in conjunction with a City Charter amendment that removed the full-time status of the City Treasurer position and made it a part-time position. The salary has been reviewed each four-year cycle since 2014, but has not been adjusted since that date.
The elected City Treasurer position is considered a part time department head position, oversees one full-time employee, with the primary responsibility for managing City investments along with the audit of tax-based revenue sources.
At their meeting of September 8, 2026, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance to increase the City Treasurer salary by 10% effective April 1 2027 (to $2291.68/month) with additional 3% increases each year in 2028, 2029 and 2030. Per ordinance, the City Treasurer position receives the same benefits as the Management and Confidential Employee Unit. No changes to these benefits are currently being proposed.
COORDINATION
The Human Resources Department coordinated this report with the Finance Department and the City Attorney’s Office
FISCAL IMPACT
The first of the proposed increases will take place on April 1, 2027, with three months remaining in the fiscal year. The estimated fiscal impact in FY 2026-2027 is roughly $7,500 for the four seats being adjusted April 1, 2027. Compensation changes affecting future fiscal years will be included in future operating budgets.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Ordinance No.3320-26 Mayor Salary Adjustment
• Ordinance No.3321-26 City Council Salary Adjustment
• Ordinance No.3322-26 City Clerk Salary Adjustment
• Ordinance No.3323-26 City Treasurer Salary Adjustment
• Government Code 36516