Redondo Beach is a city of roughly 66,586 people on the southern end of Santa Monica Bay — and like most California cities its size, it runs on a council-manager form of government. That means elected officials set policy and a professional city manager handles day-to-day operations. If you've ever wondered who actually makes the decisions in Redondo Beach, how the bureaucracy is organized, or where residents fit into the picture, this guide walks through the whole structure — from the dais to the department level.
The big picture: council-manager government
Redondo Beach uses the council-manager form of government, the most common structure for California cities. Here's how it works in plain English: voters elect a mayor and five council members. Those six elected officials set priorities, approve the budget, pass ordinances, and make policy decisions. They then hire a city manager — a professional administrator — to carry out those decisions and run the city's departments.
Think of it like a board of directors and a CEO. The council is the board; the city manager is the CEO. The council decides what the city should do. The city manager figures out how to do it. This separation is intentional — it keeps politics in the policy lane and day-to-day management in the hands of someone whose full-time job is running the organization.
Elected officials: the mayor and city council
The Redondo Beach City Council consists of a mayor elected at-large and five council members elected by district. The current mayor is Jim Light, who represents the entire city. The five council districts each elect one member:
District 1: Todd Waller. District 2: Zein Obagi Jr. District 3: Nils Nehrenheim. District 4: Laura Emdee. District 5: Eric Asche.
Wait — those don't match what you heard? Council membership changes with elections. As of mid-2026, the seated members are: District 1: David Waller. District 2: John Castle. District 3: Monika Kaluderovic. District 4: Zein Obagi Jr. District 5: Dan Behrendt, who also serves as Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Jim Light is elected at-large and presides over meetings.
The council meets on the first, second, and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 415 Diamond Street. Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed. The mayor runs the meetings, votes on all matters, and serves as the city's ceremonial leader — but has no more formal power than any other council member. Every vote is equal.
The city manager
The City Manager of Redondo Beach is Mike Witzansky. He is appointed by the city council (not elected) and serves at their pleasure. The city manager is responsible for implementing council policy, overseeing all city departments, preparing the annual budget, and hiring and managing department heads.
If the council votes to fund a new park improvement, the city manager directs staff to make it happen. If a pothole needs filling, a business license needs issuing, or a fire station needs staffing, that all falls under the city manager's umbrella. The city manager also serves as the primary advisor to the council, bringing recommendations, data, and analysis to every policy discussion.
The city also has a City Attorney (who advises on legal matters and drafts ordinances) and a City Clerk (who manages official records, agendas, and elections). The current City Clerk is Eleanor Manzano.
City departments
Redondo Beach's city government is organized into departments that handle the services residents interact with every day. Here's a quick overview of the major ones:
Community Development: Planning, building permits, code enforcement, and long-range land use. If you're remodeling your house or opening a business, this is where you start. Director: Marc Wiener.
Public Works: Streets, water, sewer, stormwater, and capital improvement projects. They keep the infrastructure running.
Police Department:Law enforcement, traffic, dispatch, and community safety programs. Redondo Beach has its own police department — it doesn't contract with the LA County Sheriff.
Fire Department: Fire suppression, emergency medical services, and fire prevention. Like the police department, Redondo runs its own fire service.
Recreation & Community Services: Parks, recreation programs, the library, senior services, and community events.
Finance:Budget, accounting, revenue collection, and financial reporting. They manage the city's roughly $120 million annual budget.
Human Resources and Information Technology round out the department roster, supporting the internal operations that keep everything else functioning.
Commissions and boards
Redondo Beach has seven advisory commissions that help shape city policy. Commissioners are residents appointed by the city council to four-year terms. They volunteer their time and expertise to study issues, hold public hearings, and make recommendations to the council.
The most impactful is the Planning Commission, which has quasi-judicial authority over land-use decisions. Other commissions include Harbor, Budget & Finance, Cultural Arts, Public Amenities, Public Works Safety & Sustainability, and the Youth Commission (for high school students). We have a full guide to commissions if you want to go deeper.
How decisions get made
Most city decisions follow a predictable path from idea to action. Here's a simplified version of how it typically works:
Step 1: An issue surfaces. A resident complains about a problem. A department identifies a need. The state passes a new law. A council member raises a priority. Something triggers the process.
Step 2: Staff analyzes it. City staff research the issue, explore options, estimate costs, and prepare a staff report with a recommendation.
Step 3: Commission review (sometimes).If the issue involves land use, the harbor, the budget, or another commission's area, it may go to that body first for a recommendation.
Step 4: Council consideration. The item goes on a council meeting agenda. Staff presents, the public comments, and council members discuss and vote. Most actions require a simple majority (4 of 6 votes).
Step 5: Implementation. If approved, the city manager directs staff to carry it out. For ordinances, there's usually a second reading and a waiting period before the law takes effect.
Not everything follows this exact sequence — emergencies, routine administrative items, and consent calendar items all move differently. But for the big decisions that shape the city, this is the general flow.
How to plug in
Understanding the structure is the first step. The second step is using it. Here are a few ways to engage with your city government:
Attend a council meeting. They're held on the first, second, and third Tuesdays at 6 PM at 415 Diamond Street. You can also watch the livestream.
Speak during public comment. You don't need to be an expert. Show up, fill out a speaker card, and tell the council what you think.
Apply for a commission. The city is always looking for residents willing to volunteer their time on an advisory body. Contact the City Clerk's office at (310) 318-0656.
Contact your council member. Every resident has a district representative. Find yours on the city's website and send them an email. They read them.
Redondo Beach is a small city with an accessible government. The people making decisions are your neighbors. The meetings are public. The process, while sometimes slow, is designed to include you. The only prerequisite is showing up.