1 TO: City Council
FROM: Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
PREPARED BY: Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
MEETING DATE: June 3, 2025
SUBJECT: Discussion and Consideration of a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 to the City Manager Employment Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 2025-17 approving Amendment No. 1 to the May 1, 2024, City Manager Employment Agreement.
BACKGROUND
The City Council recently conducted a performance evaluation with the City Manager.
Following the evaluation, the Council met with its labor negotiator (City Attorney Trevor Rusin) to discuss the terms of the City Manager’s contract, which was originally entered into on May 1, 2024. Paragraph 4 of the Agreement contemplates annual performance reviews of the City Manager and reserves to the City Council sole discretion as to any merit increases or cost of living adjustments to his salary.
The terms in the attached proposed Amendment No. 1 to the City Manager Employment Agreement between the City and Andrew Vialpando reflect the City Council’s proposal, which Mr. Vialpando indicates are acceptable to him. He has signed the agreement and, if approved by the Council, it will take effect immediately. The attached amendment would retain all the terms and conditions of the current agreement, as amended previously, with the following exceptions that (1) raise Vialpando’s annual salary from $240,000 to $250,000, and (2) award Vialpando a one-time discretionary bonus of $2,500 in reflection of the quality of his work and costs borne by Mr. Vialpando:
1. Section 4 Salary is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Effective as of May 1, 2025, City agrees to pay Vialpando for his services rendered pursuant to this Agreement an annual salary of two-hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), payable in installments on the City's regular paydays. In addition,
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. {{section.number}}c
2 Vialpando shall receive a one-time discretionary bonus in the amount of $2,500 on the City’s next regular payday. City will consider additional potential increases (including COLAs) based on performance, comparative salaries, and the finances of the City.
Mr. Vialpando’s Agreement does not include a COLA adjustment to his salary. The new salary is comparable to that paid to city managers in similar jurisdictions. The new salary is a reflection of both a cost-of-living adjustment, and of the quality of Mr. Vialpando’s work and dedication to the City, and is to take effect on his one year anniversary (May 1, 2025).
FISCAL IMPACT
The Salary amendment results in an increase of $10,000 per year. The $2,500 one-time discretionary bonus is offset by the funds appropriated in the approved employee retirement benefits for the City Manager position, therefore there is no fiscal impact for this item. There are sufficient funds for the proposed amendments in the FY 25-26 Adopted Budget.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the recommended action.
2. Provide alternative direction.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 2025-17
2. City Manager Employment Agreement dated May 1, 2024.
Approved by:
_______________________
Andrew Vialpando
City Manager