The Santa Barbara City Council appointed Kelly McAdoo as city administrator Tuesday afternoon, an outside hire who will move to town and start work in the spring.

McAdoo, city manager of Hayward in the Bay Area, has decades of experience in California city government, including more than 20 years at Hayward, four years in Palo Alto, and about seven years in Fremont.

She has been City Manager in Hayward since 2016, a city with a population around 160,000 and a city staff of about 900 people.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Ms. McAdoo to the team,” Mayor Randy Rowse said after the unanimous vote to appoint her.

“I’m excited to join the community later this spring and look forward to making Santa Barbara our home,” McAdoo said over Zoom.

She said it was an honor and privilege to be appointed to the position.

The appointment was announced after a short closed session meeting.

McAdoo will start the job in late May, according to the city.

Santa Barbara conducted a nationwide recruitment for the hire and city leaders said in a statement that “McAdoo’s extensive background and strategic leadership abilities make her an exemplary choice to navigate the complexities and opportunities facing Santa Barbara.

“The City of Santa Barbara is poised to welcome Ms. McAdoo and looks forward to the rich expertise and fresh perspectives she will bring to our beloved community.”

McAdoo’s other credentials include bachelor’s degrees in political science and international studies, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas; completing the Harvard Kennedy School State and Local Executives Program; and a leadership program with the International City/County Management Association.

Previous Santa Barbara City Administrator Rebecca Bjork retired at the end of the 2022, after 35 years on staff.

Bjork has headed City Hall staff since September 2021, and previously spent many years as public works director and community development director.

Bjork dealt with budget concerns that led the city to drop its economic development manager and use reserve funds to make up deficits in the 2023-24 budget.

Before she left, Bjork started the process to build apartments in the Paseo Nuevo shopping center, in a partnership with a private developer.

City Attorney Sarah Knecht has filled in as Acting City Administrator since Bjork’s retirement.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli contributed reporting to this story.