Oliver Chi, who has served as Irvine’s City Manager since 2021, has accepted the same position in Santa Monica.
“We are thrilled to welcome Oliver Chi to Santa Monica,” said Mayor Lana Negrete. “He has the talent, skills and vision to address the city’s most pressing needs and lead us into the future. His inclusive, people-focused leadership style and ability to unify teams will be key to our continued success as a vibrant, sustainable and equitable city.”
Chi’s start date is July 14. He’ll earn an annual salary of $410,604.
As Irvine city manager, Chi presided over the 300-acre Great Park expansion project, new housing initiatives through Irvine Cares, and the establishment of a new land development process responsible for the $600 million Gateway Village project.
From 2019 to 2022, Chi was Huntington Beach’s City Manager. He spent the previous five years managing the City of Monrovia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Santa Monica has been searching for a new city manager since David White resigned in February. Elaine Polachek has been serving on a temporary basis. Chi will become the fifth City Manager to hold the post since 2020.
Chi’s appointment comes at a tumultuous time for the city. Santa Monica is grappling with a $789.9 million deficit, exacerbated by a wave of child sex abuse lawsuits. The city is also facing uncertainty over the future of its elections system and the Santa Monica Airport site.