REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Marissa Sur, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
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Adopt Resolution No. 2025-26 appointing Robert Torrez as Interim Chief Financial Officer and approving the Employment Agreement.
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Statement of Issue:
The City is in the process of conducting a recruitment to fill the Chief Financial Officer vacancy. The City Manager recommends City Council approve the appointment of Robert Torrez as Interim Chief Financial Officer until the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Financial Officer concludes.
Financial Impact:
No additional funding is requested. Funding is included in the FY 2024-25 budget.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-26, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Appointing Robert Torrez as Interim Chief Financial Officer;” and
B) Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the “Employment Agreement between the City of Huntington Beach and Robert Torrez”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The City is conducting a recruitment to fill the position of Chief Financial Officer. To maintain the integrity of the City’s services and provide executive leadership to the Finance Department, it is recommended that City Council approve the appointment of Robert Torrez to serve as the Interim Chief Financial Officer through the conclusion of the recruitment process. The adoption of Resolution No. 2025-26 and the execution of Robert Torrez’s Employment Agreement is required by CalPERS for employment of retired annuitants at the Department Head/Executive level pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h).
Torrez has over 30 years of experience in Public Finance, including employment with multiple Southern California public agencies at the Executive level and Interim positions.
The hourly compensation for the position of Chief Financial Officer is the Non-Associated Range NA 0269, at $108.03 per hour with no City-provided benefits. The interim appointment of Torrez is compliant with California Government Code Section 21221(h).
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
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2025-26
2. Robert Torrez Employment Agreement
3. Robert Torrez Resume
4. Interim Chief Financial Officer Employment Agreement Presentation