Irvine Finds Its Chi
The Irvine City Council has chosen Oliver Chi as its new City Manager, approving him at its November 9 meeting. His contract begins Friday, December 24.
“As a City Council, we went through an extensive recruitment and interview process that included input from the community,” say Mayor Farrah Khan. “Oliver Chi has the leadership and executive management skills to effectively implement the policies we set as well as manage the day-to-day operations of the City. Oliver’s experience and approach will allow for him to have an immediate impact on our City, as we continue to recover from the pandemic, and continue to be a world-class City well into the future.”
Oliver has more than twenty-two years of extensive government experience at both the state and local level. Since 2019, he has served as the City Manager for the City of Huntington Beach, one of the premier beach communities on the west coast. Prior to his current role, he held a variety of management and staff positions with the cities of Monrovia, Barstow, Rosemead, Claremont, and Arcadia, along with serving for a period of time as a staff member to the California State Legislature.
“I am humbled, excited, and grateful for the opportunity to join a city as dynamic and diverse as Irvine,” says Chi. “It is a truly remarkable community, and I am so looking forward to partnering with the Mayor, City Council, and staff as we work together to guide Irvine’s continued growth during its next 50 years.”
During his tenure in Huntington Beach, Chi has been credited with establishing a dynamic, values-driven organization focused on achieving key community goals, including development of the innovative Be Well OC mobile crisis response model that dispatches non-sworn crisis intervention teams to address mental health and substance abuse related calls for service. Additionally, he worked to advance a citywide strategy to address homelessness, instituted thoughtful sustainability initiatives, oversaw a robust capital project portfolio, established unique affordable housing programs, and prioritized fiscal health as well as community engagement activities.
Chi is an Eagle Scout. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the UCLA. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the USC.
Oliver Chi becomes Irvine’s sixth City Manager. The first City Manager, William Woollett Jr., served from 1972-1989, followed by Paul Brady (1990-1999), Allison Hart (1999-2005), Sean Joyce (2005-2018), and John Russo (2018-2020).
Chi has agreed to a two-year term at a compensation rate of $301,246.40 per year.
Oliver Chi will be Irvine’s next City Manager.