Oliver Chi now bound for Irvine?

OLIVER CHI,Huntington Beach’s city manager, has been tapped to become city manager of Irvine (Orange County Tribune photo by Jim Tortolano).

The City of Irvine announced Wednesday its intention to appoint Oliver Chi as their city manager, a decision that will be formalized at the Irvine’s Nov. 9 city council meeting. Chi currently serves as the city manager of Huntington Beach, a position he has held since 2019.

“While I am deeply honored that the City of Irvine is considering my appointment, I can’t begin to describe what a genuine privilege it has been for me to serve Huntington Beach these past two years,” Chi said. “I have been so blessed to have had the chance to work with Mayor [Kim] Carr and an outstanding team of thoughtful city council members. The amazing array of spectacularly talented city staff here in Huntington Beach are truly second to none. Our shared OneHB mission has been act as one team, working together to serve the people of Huntington Beach exceptionally to inspire pride in our community. In reflecting back on the past few years, I do feel such immense pride at what we have been able to do together.”

“Oliver has done tremendous work for the City of Huntington Beach,” said Carr. “Thanks to Oliver’s leadership, we find our city with a budget surplus and stronger than we were in the past. Oliver’s leadership has been critical in overcoming COVID, civil unrest, and most recently, the oil spill. While I will greatly miss Oliver in Huntington Beach, I have no doubt he will do fantastic things for the City of Irvine.”

The Huntington Beach City Council will be holding a closed session meeting on Nov. 16 to determine next steps relating to the city manager position and to appoint an acting city manager while a nationwide recruitment for the next Huntington Beach City Manager takes place. If Chi is confirmed by the City of Irvine to serve as the next city manager, he intends to work closely with the mayor and city council to help coordinate a smooth transition process.