Mesa Water District approves pay increase and bonus for general manager

Citing his strong job performance, Mesa Water District board members have decided to give district General Manager Paul Shoenberger a pay raise and a $10,000 bonus.

As a result of the board’s unanimous vote Dec. 14, Shoenberger’s base salary will increase by 1.86% — from $284,700 to $290,000 a year — starting Jan. 1.

“Thanks to your outstanding work, it has been a great year for Mesa Water this year,” board President Jim Atkinson told Shoenberger during the meeting.

This is the latest in a series of bonuses the board has approved for Shoenberger. He received $20,000 in 2014, $12,500 in 2015, $10,000 in 2016 and $10,000 in June this year. The bonus signed off on last week takes effect Jan. 1.

Shoenberger has been Mesa Water’s general manager since 2009. His base annual salary was $227,800 when he was hired.

Both the new salary increase and the bonus are based on the board’s assessment of Shoenberger’s performance in carrying out the goals and objectives outlined in the district’s strategic plan.

Those include providing a safe, abundant and reliable water supply, practicing perpetual infrastructure renewal and improvement, being financially responsible and transparent, increasing public awareness about Mesa Water, attracting and retaining skilled employees, providing quality customer service and participating in regional water issues.

Board members last week also authorized Shoenberger to operate on a “9/80” schedule, meaning he will continue to work 40 hours a week but have every other Friday off.

All other Mesa Water employees have that work schedule, according to Stacy Taylor, district external affairs manager.

In addition, the board increased Shoenberger’s vacation accrual rate from 6.5 hours to eight hours per pay period. The maximum amount of vacation time he can accrue is capped at 360 hours.

Mesa Water provides water service to about 110,000 people in Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and sections of unincorporated Orange County, including John Wayne Airport.

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