by Garth Meyer
Redondo Beach City Manager Mike Witzansky will get a $15,000 raise and a year added to his contract, the city council decided last week.
Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., said that the agreement for Witzansky’s first year in the job “was almost too good of a deal (for the city),” noting that the city manager’s original salary of $250,000 per year was less than that of Manhattan Beach ($280,000), Torrance ($283,000) and El Segundo ($270,000).
Witzansky will now make $265,000 and the added year keeps him on a three-year contract.
Before the council’s vote, District One Councilman Nils Nehrenheim instead proposed a 2.5 percent increase, and a one-time bonus per year for “goal-oriented” pay, with goals as discussed in an earlier closed session.
Obagi, Jr., spoke against Redondo Beach employees being paid less in general, saying they should at least be at the median of their peers. He made the motion to raise Witzansky’s pay, and add a year to his contract.
Councilman Todd Loewenstein expressed support for Obagi’s idea. Councilman Christian Horvath seconded Obagi’s motion.
“(Witzansky) really understands this town,” Horvath said of the former Redondo Beach community services director and public works director.
The motion passed on a 5-0 vote. ER
