by Garth Meyer
The Redondo Beach city council confirmed its plan to raise its and the mayor’s salary by 80 percent, after an extended discussion led to a 3-2 vote Tuesday night.
The pay rate has been the same since 2007. It will now increase from $927 To $1,699 per month. No current council members are to receive the raise, since it takes effect at the next change of the term-limited council seats.
District Four Representative Zein Obagi, Jr., would be eligible if he is elected to a second term.
The council originally voted last week 4-1 for the pay increase, with Laura Emdee absent. Tuesday was a “first reading” of the earlier decision, part of the standard two readings before a city ordinance becomes law.
Emdee objected to the raise, noting the city was already at the high-end of pay compared to similar, neighboring cities. The Redondo pay scale includes a cell phone allowance, travel allowance and health benefits.
Councilman Obagi said the change will attract better candidates, and make the council not only for the privileged. He suggested Emdee, and Councilman Christian Horvath, who also opposed the raise, wanted to “keep a kingdom.”
They were part of a majority voting block before Obagi got on the council last year.
“I’m trying to keep a kingdom?” asked Emdee. “If you want to attract better candidates, stop playing these games and dragging people’s reputations through the mud unnecessarily.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Nils Nehrenheim talked about how, a month after he began on council in 2017, he was faced with a personal lawsuit against him.
“I want to know how many of these paychecks have you (two) refused to accept or donated back to the city?” said Nehrenheim. “Pay a professional wage for what you want. We have pride in our community. This is what it comes down to: pride.”
Horvath made a motion to put the question before voters, on the next municipal ballot in March 2023.
Emdee seconded it.
Councilman Todd Loewenstein said that would mean the city would spend more in election costs than the raise.
“They want to reserve it for the few. We want to open it for everybody,” said Obagi.
Horvath balked at the idea that “we’re going to hold on to our power by preventing people from running.”
His motion failed on a 2-3 vote, and the policy passed 3-2, with Obagi making the decisive call.
“Aye,” he said. “Council for the People.” ER
