City council to get pay raise
The Redondo Beach city council voted Sept. 20 to raise its salaries and the mayor’s from $927 per month to $1,699, the first increase since 2007.
It passed on a 3-1 vote, with Councilmen Nils Nehrenheim, Todd Loewenstein and Zein Obagi, Jr., in support, and Christian Horvath against. Laura Emdee was absent.
Loewenstein, in his comments, asked that his seat (District Two) be exempt from the raise.
In the approved policy, raises for districts one, two, four and the mayor take effect in 2025; and in April 2023 for districts three and five, when the seats will be open.
Nehrenheim stated his reasons to support the raise were so more people in the community can afford to be on the council.
“Many people can’t financially take this position,” he said.
Horvath endorsed a small cost of living raise, but was opposed to anything further.
“I don’t agree people choose to run with the salary as the motivator. This is basically a full-time, volunteer job,” he said.
Loewenstein countered, “This is a very unusual volunteer job,” noting its late nights and weekend work.
Nehrenheim said it was a professional job, and should be paid accordingly, in relative terms.
“A single mom, a single dad, should be able (go on the council) to fight for their kids’ future,” he said.
The $927 is in addition to a car allowance, cell phone allowance and health benefits. Each stays in place with the raise.
“This should not be a position that is reserved just for the privileged,” Obagi said.
He, like each of the others, said that serving on the council is not for money. Obagi, Jr., spoke further in favor of the raise, even in the case that he will not receive it if he is recalled next month.
“If I am recalled, I want this for my replacement,” he said. “I sure as heck want to be sure she can pay off her tax liens.”
Tonya McKenzie, who is running for the seat in the event that Obagi is recalled, was revealed by local Facebook pages last week to have a $63,186 tax lien against her and her husband.
Nehrenheim named president of ICA
Redondo Beach City Councilman Nils Nehrenheim has been named the new president of the 40-member Independent Cities Association (ICA).
Founded in 1960, ICA focuses on public safety, infrastructure, education and other matters which transcend city boundaries. The ICA holds two annual seminars, a January event centered on public safety and in July, a focus on contemporary issues.ER
