Rosemead will pay its next city manager a base salary of $320,000 a year under an employment agreement the City Council approved Tuesday, capping a search to replace retiring City Manager Ben Kim.
The three-year agreement with Kanika Kith, set to begin Dec. 7, also carries a $600 monthly vehicle allowance and a severance provision worth 12 months of base salary and benefits if she is terminated without cause.
Kith previously served as city manager and economic development director for the city of San Fernando, and earlier as director of planning for California City in Kern County.
The council also advanced a multiyear extension of the Rosemead Go and Rosemead Go Plus microtransit program, authorizing the interim city manager to execute a first amendment to the agreement with Via Transportation Inc. worth nearly $1.36 million for 2027, roughly $1.42 million for 2028 and over $2.18 million for 2029 through mid-2030.
The program, which launched in July 2025, completed 43,338 combined rides in its first 12 months with a 4.9 out of 5 average rider rating. Senior and ADA trips rose 91% while the cost per ride fell 49%, from $70.77 to $36.15.
The extension is funded through Los Angeles County Propositions A and C Local Return programs, with no cost impact to the city’s general fund budget.
The council also considered a $60,000 agreement with HR Dynamics & Performance Management Inc. for executive coaching, leadership consultation and strategic planning services over a twelve-month period beginning Nov. 1, 2026. Henry T. Garcia would serve as principal consultant.
Other items included discussion of the city’s Speed Hump Policy, requested by Councilwoman Margaret Clark, and direction on appointments to San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments subcommittees, requested by Councilman Steven Ly.
The council also weighed a proposed Mayor’s Commendation Program and the dissolution of the Commercial Task Force Subcommittee.
The AI platform Civilio assisted this report.