Kiff is hired as the interim city manager

The appointment of David Kiff to be interim city manager was approved by the Huntington Beach City Council on Monday night. The council voted 7-0 to hire Kiff – a former Newport Beach City Manager – to fill the post until a permanent city manager is hired.

The opening developed when Fred Wilson, who spent 10 years in the job, announced his retirement. Lori Ann Farrell-Harrison, assistant city manager, briefly took the interim slot, but was hired to become the new city manager for Costa Mesa.

Kiff has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from CSU Sacramento and a master of government administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Most recently, he’s served as interim executive director for the Association of California Cities/Orange County.

Also on Monday night, the council:

• approved on a 6-1 vote the creation of a chief assistant city attorney post, with Councilmember Kim Carr dissenting;
• approved on a 4-2-1 vote the creation of the post of assistant chief financial officer with council members Carr and Jill Hardy dissenting and Mayor Erik Peterson absent.

The next meeting of the city council is set for Monday, June 3.