To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: DIANE STRICKFADEN, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
TITLE
title
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON POTENTIAL SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CITY CLERK, CITY TREASURER AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL POSITIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE MARCH 2027 REGULAR ELECTION
PROVIDE DIRECTION REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT ORDINANCE(S) AT THE SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution CC-0505-56 to establish a process for consideration of future pay and/or benefit adjustments for elected officials. The Resolution directs the Budget and Finance Commission to make recommendations to the City Council regarding elected official pay and potential adjustments in advance of the filing period for a regular election. The 2027 regular municipal election will cover the City Clerk, City Treasurer, and two City Council seats (District 3 and District 5). The filing period for the March 2027 election will open on November 9, 2026. Therefore, adjustments to salaries, if any, must be codified via ordinance no later than October 6, 2026.
The City Council last provided direction regarding the salaries for the Mayor and City Council, City Clerk, and City Treasurer positions in 2022. At that time, the Council voted to increase the Mayor and City Council salaries, beginning with the commencement of each forthcoming term. The City Council also increased the City Clerk’s salary by 2% per year for the four years of the City Clerk’s subsequent term. The City Council did not make any changes to the City Treasurer’s salary.
BACKGROUND
City Clerk
The compensation and benefits for the City Clerk was last set by the City Council, via Ordinance 3246-22, which was adopted in 2022. The ordinance established the City Clerk monthly base salary in April 2023 at $10,875 per month, with annual 2% increases through 2026. The monthly base salary is currently set at $11,540 per month, effective April 1, 2026, and will not change without the adoption of a new ordinance.
The City Charter requires that any changes to the City Clerk’s base salary must 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. With the opening of the nomination period being on November 9, 2026, any recommended salary changes will need to be codified by the City Council by ordinance no later than October 6, 2026.
In light of this upcoming deadline, staff conducted a monthly base salary survey for the City Clerk position, using the agreed upon survey cities that have previously been negotiated with the various City bargaining units. Although some of the cities are outside of the immediate area, the cities were selected due to their similar size and market comparability to Redondo Beach. Staff surveyed both full-time and part-time City Clerk positions, with some being elected positions, and some being appointed positions.
The monthly base salary information below is current as of July 2026:
|
City |
Title |
Part-Time or Full-Time |
Monthly Salary |
|
Culver City |
City Clerk |
FT |
$18,124 |
|
El Segundo |
City Clerk |
PT |
$3,375 |
|
Gardena |
City Clerk |
PT |
$1,000 |
|
Hawthorne |
City Clerk |
PT |
$833 |
|
Hermosa Beach |
City Clerk |
FT |
$13,607 |
|
Huntington Beach |
City Clerk |
FT |
$12,123 |
|
Lawndale |
City Clerk |
PT |
$350 |
|
Manhattan Beach |
City Clerk |
FT |
$21,541 |
|
Pasadena |
City Clerk |
FT |
$23,375 |
|
Rancho Palos Verdes |
City Clerk |
FT |
$16,310 |
|
Torrance |
City Clerk |
FT |
$15,799 |
|
West Hollywood |
City Clerk |
FT |
$20,144 |
|
Redondo Beach |
City Clerk |
FT |
$11,540 |
|
Median Salary |
|
|
$13,607 |
Survey results indicate that the Redondo Beach City Clerk position currently ranks below the median for full time City Clerks in comparable cities.
The Redondo Beach City Clerk oversees four full time employees and is responsible for elections, records management, City Council, agency and commission agendas and minutes, administering the Commission appointment process, maintaining the City’s legislative history, and several other functions.
Per ordinance, the City Clerk position also receives the same benefits as full-time employees in the Management and Confidential Employee Unit. No changes to these benefits are currently being proposed.
The Budget and Finance Commission reviewed this information at two meetings, on August 13, 2026, and again on August 27, 2026. On August 27, 2026 the Commission made a motion (attached) that recommends the City Council increase the City Clerk’s salary “by the same rate and at the same time as merit increases are provided for senior (city) staffers.” The Commission indicated that the City Clerk is a full-time position, similar to full-time City staff, while taking into consideration the City’s challenging fiscal situation.
City Treasurer
On June 3, 2014, at the recommendation of the former City Treasurer, the City Council considered information regarding a compensation reduction for the City Treasurer position. The City Council ultimately voted to reduce the base salary of the City Treasurer from $9,746 per month ($116,952 annually) to $2,083.33 per month ($25,000 annually), and the salary remains the same in 2026. This vote took place after the Budget and Finance Commission recommended no change to the salary. During that timeframe, voters approved Measure CT, which was an amendment to the City Charter, that removed the full-time status of the City Treasurer position and made it into a part-time position.
Staff recently conducted a monthly base salary survey for the City Treasurer position, using the same survey cities that have previously been negotiated with the various City bargaining units. Although some of the cities are outside of the immediate area, the cities were selected due to their similar size and comparability to Redondo Beach. Staff surveyed both full-time and part-time City Treasurer positions, with some positions being elected as dedicated City Treasurers, and others having the treasurer duties conducted by the City’s Finance Director, as part of a different job specification.
The City Treasurer monthly base salary information below is current as of July 2026:
|
City |
Title |
Part Time or Full Time |
Monthly Salary |
|
Culver City |
Finance Director |
FT |
NA |
|
El Segundo |
City Treasurer |
PT |
$2,375 |
|
Gardena |
City Treasurer |
PT |
$500 |
|
Hawthorne |
City Treasurer |
PT |
$833 |
|
Hermosa Beach |
City Treasurer |
FT |
$530 |
|
Huntington Beach |
City Treasurer |
¾ TIME |
$13,494 |
|
Lawndale |
Finance Director |
FT |
NA |
|
Manhattan Beach |
City Treasurer |
FT |
$500 |
|
Pasadena |
Deputy Finance Director |
FT |
NA |
|
Rancho Palos Verdes |
Finance Director |
FT |
NA |
|
Torrance |
City Treasurer |
FT |
$2,860 |
|
West Hollywood |
Finance Director |
FT |
NA |
|
Redondo Beach |
City Treasurer |
PT |
$2,083 |
|
Median Salary |
|
|
$1,458.33 |
Survey results indicate that the Redondo Beach City Treasurer position currently ranks above the median for part time City Treasurers in comparable cities. In several survey cities, the City Treasurer position is a dual role with the City’s Finance Director, as noted above. Therefore, those salaries were not included as they are not comparable to City Treasurer salaries.
The elected Redondo Beach City Treasurer oversees one full-time Chief Deputy City Treasurer. Per ordinance, the elected Redondo Beach City Treasurer receives the same benefits as full time employees in the Management and Confidential Employee Unit. No changes to these benefits are currently being proposed.
In addition to the above survey, staff received additional information regarding total cash compensation for Southern California City Treasurers, downloaded from the State Controller’s Office. This survey reflects total cash compensation changes and wage growth from 2014 until 2026:
|
City |
2014 |
2026 |
|
Azusa |
$ 31,253 |
$ 39,404 |
|
Baldwin Park |
$ 2,400 |
$ 30,252 |
|
Beverly Hills |
$ 2,490 |
$ 8,580 |
|
Carson |
$ 135,001 |
$ 150,376 |
|
Compton |
$ 115,753 |
$ 128,884 |
|
Covina |
$ 2,466 |
$ 9,600 |
|
El Monte |
$ 14,734 |
$ 11,022 |
|
Gardena |
$ 3,599 |
$ 9,192 |
|
Glendale |
|
$ 169,923 |
|
Hawthorne |
$ 9,942 |
$ 14,400 |
|
Inglewood |
$ 64,908 |
$ 122,884 |
|
Manhattan Beach |
$ 6,001 |
$ 12,390 |
|
Palos Verdes Estates |
$ 3,600 |
$ 3,600 |
|
Sierra Madre |
$ 1,939 |
$ 3,000 |
|
Southgate |
$ 7,200 |
$ 28,406 |
|
South Pasadena |
$ 8,733 |
$ 8,472 |
|
Torrance |
$ 125,102 |
$ 75,617 |
|
Redondo Beach |
$ 30,356 |
$ 42,674 |
Any change to the position’s existing compensation would have to follow the same process as that for the City Clerk, which is outlined in the City Charter, and must be completed before the opening of the nomination period for the upcoming election.
The Budget and Finance Commission reviewed this information at its meetings on August 13, 2026 and again on August 27, 2026. Their recommendation to the City Council did not include a change to the City Treasurer’s salary.
Mayor and City Council
The method to set compensation for the Mayor and City Councilmembers is specified in the Redondo Beach Municipal Code and then 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 the first adjustment in 14 years being made in 2022. In 2022, the City Council voted to adjust Mayor and Council salaries to $1669.16 per month ($20,030/year). For City Council Districts 3 and 5, and in accordance with the City Charter, this adjustment was effective at the beginning of a new term on April 1, 2023. For City Council Districts 1, 2 and 4, as well as the Mayor’s seat, the adjustment was effective April 1, 2025, which was the beginning of a new term for those positions. It should be noted that the Mayor and City Council also receive deferred compensation in the amount of 12% of their salary, and the same fringe benefits provided to the Management and Confidential Employee Unit.
Article VI of the City Charter refers to adjusting City Council salaries in accordance with Government Code Section 36516. That Government Code Section is attached for City Council review, and it appears to place a limit on adjustments based on the timing of the most recent adjustment. However, there are no known cases specifying if charter cities, like Redondo Beach, must conform with the above Government Code section, or what method charter cities should use to adjust councilmember salaries.
As there was a recent change to the Mayor and Council salaries in 2022, staff did not conduct a salary survey for these positions. In addition, the Budget and Finance Commission did not make a recommendation to change these salaries, as they had been recently updated.
However, at the September 1, 2026 City Council meeting, Councilmember Obagi made a referral to staff regarding the possibility of adding a communications reimbursement/stipend to the City Council pay and benefits package. Due to City Charter requirements surrounding the timing of City Council salary adjustments, staff recommends that the City Council consider adding such a stipend directly to the City Council salary rather than creating a separate pay type.
As noted, any changes to existing compensation would have to follow the same process as that for the City Clerk and City Treasurer, which is through adoption of an ordinance that must be completed before the opening of the nomination period for the upcoming election. Proposed pay changes would not apply to current Councilmember terms.
Following direction from Council, staff will return with ordinance(s) to make the desired adjustments for consideration of introduction and first reading at the next City Council meeting. If no action is taken the salaries of the elected positions would remain the same for the next four-year term.
COORDINATION
The Human Resources Department coordinated this report with the Financial Services Department and the City Attorney’s Office. The Budget and Finance Commission reviewed the salaries on two occasions in August and provided input for consideration by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of adjustments will depend on final Council approval. The annual fiscal impact created by a 1% salary increase to the positions noted below is as follows:
Mayor/Councilmember: $1,733
City Clerk: $2,013
City Treasurer: $303
Any compensation changes would have to be included in future operating budgets.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Budget and Finance Commission Motion - August 27, 2026
• Government Code Section 36516
• Ord - #2022-3246-22 Salary and Benefits of the City Clerk, October 11, 2022
• Ord - #2014-3123-14 Salary and Benefits of the City Treasurer, October 7, 2014
• Ord - #2022-3244-22 Salary and Benefits of the Mayor, October 22, 2022
• Ord - #2022-3245-22 Salary and Benefits of the City Council, October 22, 2022
• Reso - #0505-56 - Pay and Benefit Adjustments for Elected Officials, May 31, 2005
• City Charter Sections Related to City Clerk and Treasurer Duties