Education

Pepperdine University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)

EO/MIT Executive Certificate, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

University of Southern California (USC)

Southern California Association of Governments

       Certification of Government Leadership Program

Experience

Reforms Steve Diels has flawlessly executed to the benefit of Redondo Beach residents saving $830,893.46 in salaries alone. This year’s Treasurer Department budget is the lowest it has been in a decade. The entire salary budget of two treasurer officers is less than the single Treasurer salary in 2013 when Mr. Diels took office. Treasurer Diels has performed his duties under budget every year. Investment income has increased every year of Mr. Diels reforms –even during a period of declining interest rates. In addition, Mr. Diels successfully defended the integrity of the Redondo Beach elections process.

How did he do it? In December 2012 the former Treasurer retired in the middle of his term. Steve Diels was elected to the full-time position to serve the remaining one and a half years of the term. Per the City Charter, Mr. Diels worked full time as the City Treasurer.

• 2012 Treasurer is a full-time position with salary of $117,457.95 (fully loaded $206,266.51)

• December 2012 – Treasurer retires with 2 years 3 months remaining in his term.

• December 2012 – Interim City Treasurer appointed for 7 months through July 2013.

• July 2013 – Steve Diels is elected as the Redondo Beach City Treasurer.

• July 2013 – March 2015 – Steve Diels complete term with 1 year 9 months remaining. (Per the City Charter he could not change the salary for the completion of the previous Treasurer’s term.)

• December 2013 – Deputy Treasurer retires.

• NOTE: Steve Diels performed the full-time duties, WITHOUT a deputy for 1 year 3 months. Saving the city $188,628.40.

• Steve Diels utilizes investment firm to improve investment performance – average cost per year, $6,500. Income from investments increases every year.

• June 2014 – Steve Diels asked the City Council to reduce the City Treasurer’s salary from $117,000 to $25,000. The City Council approved the City Treasurer’s salary reduction to $25,000, per the City Charter would take effect for the 2015 term beginning April 1st.   NOTE: One of Steve Diels’ Campaign Reform initiatives, to reduce the salary. Completed.

• November 2014 – Measure CT

o Steve Diels drafts the Measure for the November election removing the “full-time” requirement in the City Charter. NOTE: One of Steve Diels’ Campaign Reform initiatives, to ask the voters to amend the City Charter to have the City Treasurer be a part time position.  Completed.

o Measure CT added new language to give the Treasurer the authority to audit all monies collected by the city in order to prepare monthly reports. NOTE: One of Steve Diels’ Campaign Reform initiatives, to implement more oversight with Audit authority added to the City Treasurer’s role. Completed.

o Measure CT passed overwhelmingly. Campaign Reform initiatives - Completed.

• March 3, 2015 – Steve Diels was re-elected beginning new term at the $25,000 salary –one year and eight months after taking office.

• March 2015 – July 2016 – Steve Diels’ continues to work full-time as Treasurer with a $25,000 salary. He worked full-time performing all the treasurer duties as the only person in the Treasury Department before filling the Deputy Treasurer position.

• July 2016 – Steve Diels hires a Deputy Treasurer to fill the 2-year 7-month vacancy. which saved the City $389,832.03.

• Total savings in salaries alone since Steve Diels was elected the Redondo Beach City Treasurer $830,893.46.

• December 2018 – January 2019 Mr. Diels successfully defends the integrity of the Redondo Beach elections process with a court challenge. Opponent ruled to be false, misleading and in violation of election code by Redondo Beach City Clerk and by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Election opponent falsely declares his primary vocation in his ballot designation and makes other false declarations and “thinly veiled attacks on his opponent” in his ballot statement – among them that the Treasurer tripled his expenses.

November 1990 – Present (29 years) Redondo Beach, California

Past President:
Association of Tele-Services International
Tele-Services Association of California

Awards:
Business Advocate of the Year – California Chamber of Commerce
Energy Conservation Flex Your Power Award – State of California
Entrepreneur of the Year – Redondo Beach Economic Development Council
Award of Excellence – CAMX, ATSI – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Member:  NAEO, ATSI, LAACC, RBCC, CAMX, LAEDC, EO

City Councilmember

City of Redondo Beach

2005 – May, 2013 (8 years)

President Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities

Member:
Redondo Beach Audit Committee, Redondo Beach Public Financing Authority, Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Committee, USC Sol Price Exed Advisory Committee, LOCC Revenue and Taxation Committee, Los Angeles Jobs Defense Council

Past Chairmanships:
South Bay Cities Council of Governments, South Bay Environmental Services Center, Redondo Beach Redevelopment Agency, Oversight Board

Projects