Administrative
Report
H.20., File # 24-1451 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: DIANE STRICKFADEN, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
TITLE
INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 3276-24, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 2-3.904 OF ARTICLE 9, TITLE 2 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, UPDATING THE SALARY
AND BENEFITS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING
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. The filing period for the March 2025 election will open on November 12, 2024. Therefore, adjustments to salaries, if any, must be codified in an adopted ordinance no later than October 8, 2024.
The 2025 regular municipal election will cover three City Council seats (Districts 1, 2, and 4) and the City Attorney’s seat. The City Council last gave direction regarding the salaries for the Mayor and City Council positions in 2022. Adjustments were made for Council District 3 and District 5 that took effect in April 2023. Adjustments for the Mayor and Council Districts 1, 2 and 4 are scheduled to take effect in April 2025. However, the City Attorney’s salary has not been adjusted since 2020. It was last reviewed and updated in 2016 via the adoption of Ordinance No. O 3163-16. This Ordinance set forth salary increases of 2% in April 2018, 1.5% in April 2019, and 2.5% in April 2020. The salary was reviewed again in 2020, but no additional changes were made.
On August 20, 2024, the City Council voted 4-1 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance to adjust the City Attorney’s salary from $274,452 per year to $280,000 per year, beginning April 1, 2025, and to receive subsequent 3% increases each April that follows in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The decision was made after Council reviewed salary surveys and comparable market data from several different jurisdictions. Attached for consideration of approval is the ordinance needed to codify the proposed salary adjustments.
BACKGROUND
As noted, the compensation for the City Attorney is established by ordinance. Attached for first reading is a proposed ordinance to implement the City Council’s August 20, 2024 direction. The proposed salary adjustments are reflected in the chart below:
Effective Date From To % Increase
April 1, 2025 $274,452/year $280,000/year 2.021%
April 1, 2026 $280,000/year $288,400/year 3%
April 1, 2027 $288,400/year $297,052/year 3%
April 1, 2028 $297,052/year $305,964/year 3%
H.20., File # 24-1451 Meeting Date: 9/3/2024 Effective Date From To % Increase April 1, 2025 $274,452/year $280,000/year 2.021%
April 1, 2026 $280,000/year $288,400/year 3%
April 1, 2027 $288,400/year $297,052/year 3%
April 1, 2028 $297,052/year $305,964/year 3%
In 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution No. CC-0505-56 to establish a process for consideration of pay adjustments for elected officials. That Resolution delegated future recommendations regarding elected official pay increases to the Budget and Finance Commission.
At the August 8, 2024 Budget and Finance Commission meeting, the Commission reviewed both the process for adjusting the City Attorney’s salary, along with some comparable market data presented by staff. The Commission stated that they didn’t feel like they had enough information to make a fully informed recommendation to the Council. At the conclusion of the meeting, they voted not to recommend adjustments to the salary but they did forward a letter to the City Council stating their position.
Subsequently, at the August 20, 2024 City Council meeting, the Council reviewed salary surveys and comparable market data from other sources, and voted 4-1 to adjust the salary for the City Attorney position and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for consideration of approval. The proposed Ordinance codifies the salary as $280,000 per year, beginning April 1, 2025, with subsequent 3% increases in April 2026, April 2027, and April 2028. The City Attorney position will continue to receive benefits in accordance with the Management and Confidential employee group’s Pay and Benefits Plan.
The elected City Attorney position oversees 12 full-time employees, in two divisions, and is responsible for representing the City in civil and prosecutorial matters.
COORDINATION
The Human Resources Department coordinated this report with the Finance Department. The City Attorney’s Office prepared the Ordinance as per Council direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
A 1% salary increase would have a fiscal impact of approximately $3,044 per year, which includes an increase to base salary, along with the commensurate impacts to the position’s pension and benefits.
For FY 2024-25, the impact of the proposed ordinance would be approximately $6,152, including benefits.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Ord - Amending Section 2-3.904 Of Article 9, Title 2 of The Redondo Beach Municipal Code, Updating The Salary And Benefits of the City Attorney
· Ord - No. O 3163-16 Existing Salary Ordinance, October 11, 2016 · City Charter Section 10.1
· Reso - No. CC-0505-56, May 31, 2005