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Redondo Beach extends city manager’s contract, approves 5.4% salary increase
Summary
The council approved a one‑year extension of City Manager Mike Wachanski’s employment agreement through Dec. 31, 2027, and a salary increase that raises base pay to $295,000 (effective with the first pay period of 2025). The move followed a subcommittee review of performance and market comparisons.
The Redondo Beach City Council approved a one‑year extension to City Manager Mike Wachanski’s employment agreement and a salary increase on Tuesday after a subcommittee review.
The council’s subcommittee recommended a pay raise that increases Mr. Wachanski’s base salary to $295,000, a raise the staff report described as a roughly 5.4% increase in base pay (about a 4.6% increase when total composite compensation is compared). The council agreed the increase should take effect with the first pay period of 2025 (the city noted an administrative peculiarity in payroll timing that places the first pay period in mid‑December this year; the council directed staff to make the effective date the start of the first pay period in 2025).
The subcommittee’s recommendation followed a market comparison against recent local city manager pay data (cities included in the comparison were cited as Culver City, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo) and an accounting of Mr. Wachanski’s 2024 duties and accomplishments. The subcommittee cited a heavy workload in 2024 — more than 1,100 open session agenda items this year, a portfolio of capital projects in design and construction and numerous major policy items — when recommending the raise and a one‑year extension to the contract term.
Fiscal impact and vote
Staff estimated the fiscal impact of the increase at roughly $8,750 for the remainder of the current fiscal year and approximately $15,000 annually for the next two fiscal years; the total impact reported across the contract term was approximately $45,000. The council voted to approve the extension and salary increase; the motion and roll call were recorded in open session.
Why it matters
The action is a standard executive compensation step to retain an appointed city manager during a busy period of capital projects and policy implementation. Councilmembers praised Mr. Wachanski’s responsiveness and the city’s operational performance over 2024.
