As Riverside loses its city manager, Huntington Beach gains him.
The two cities announced late Wednesday, April 27, that Riverside City Manager Al Zelinka is expected to move to his new Orange County post in summer.
Riverside City Manager Al Zelinka, seen in 2015, will become the city manager of Huntington Beach in June 2022. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Huntington Beach announced its intention to hire Zelinka as its next city manager, a Riverside news release states.
Zelinka has been at the helm in Riverside for the past four years and worked in the city since 2012. Before heading to Riverside, Zelinka was director of community development in Fullerton.
Zelinka was appointed as Riverside’s city manager in early 2018, weeks after longtime administrator John Russo was fired. Prior to his current role, Zelinka was Riverside’s assistant city manager and was director of community and economic development.
Zelinka’s last day in Riverside will be June 3, the release states.
Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said in the release that he “has been a steady hand during the past four years, including two years working with our elected officials to get our city and our workforce through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Zelinka worked to generate revenue and save costs, the release states, and is credited with bringing new investment to downtown Riverside. Lock Dawson and the council will craft a plan to replace him.
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Huntington Beach City Council members are set to approve Zelinka’s hire, effective June 27, at their May 3 meeting.
Huntington Beach Mayor Barbara Delgleize said in a statement that “Zelinka has a proven track record as a results-oriented, collaborative leader.”
Zelinka will replace Oliver Chi, who left Huntington Beach to become Irvine’s city manager in December.
Since Chi’s departure, Interim City Manager Sean Joyce has filled in.
Zelinka will join Huntington Beach amid a rosy financial outlook. The city has quieted down since Chi’s tenure, which fell during continual demonstrations at the pier over coronavirus restrictions, the presidential election and racial justice. With his anti-mask tactics, mixed martial arts celebrity Tito Ortiz kept the city in the news while on the city council during the first six months of 2021, before resigning that June.