REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Vigliotta, City Attorney
VIA: Marissa Sur, Director of Human Resources
PREPARED BY: Marissa Sur, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
title
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-17 approving a City Manager Employment Agreement
body
Statement of Issue:
Following the resignation of City Manager Al Zelinka in November 2023, the City Council appointed Police Chief Eric Parra to the position of Interim City Manager/Police Chief. In November 2024, the Council appointed Travis Hopkins to Acting City Manager. The Council may now consider appointing Travis Hopkins to the City Manager position.
Financial Impact:
The City Manager’s salary and benefits are allocated in the FY 2024-25 budget.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-17, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Approving Travis Hopkins as City Manager” and execute the related City Manager Employment Agreement.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Continue the item or adopt a resolution and/or employment agreement with modifications.
Analysis:
Article IV, Section 400, of the City Charter provides that the City Manager is chief administrative officer of the City and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. Assistant City Manager Travis Hopkins has been serving as Acting City Manager since November 9, 2024, during which time the Council has been able to evaluate his performance and consider filling the full-time City Manager position.
If appointed by the City Council, California law requires the City Council to adopt a proposed contract with a City Manager at a regular meeting, via resolution. The proposed employment agreement is identified as Exhibit “A” of the proposed resolution (Attachment 1). The following are the salient provisions of the proposed Employment Agreement:
Base Salary: $311,750 annual
Effective Date: March 15, 2025
Term: Four (4) years
Severance: If the City Council chooses to terminate the employment agreement and provides less than 6 months’ notice, then Mr. Hopkins is eligible for 6 months’ base salary and benefits.
Employee Benefits: Tied to Non-Associated Resolution No. 2022-09.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2025-17, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Appointing Travis Hopkins as City Manager”, including Exhibit A- Employment Agreement