HUNTINGTON BEACH CIVIC CENTER (Orange County Tribune photo).

Employment agreements between the city and an interim city manager and a new police chief were approved by the  Huntington Beach City Council when it met on Tuesday.

The council voted 7-0 to approve an agreement with Sean Joyce to serve on an interim basis as the top appointed city official, as well as an agreement with Eric Parra as chief of police.

Oliver Chi left the city manager post on Dec. 13 to take the top job for Irvine. The interim city manager is expected to serve in the first half of 2022 while a “nationwide recruitment” process is conducted for a permanent replacement.

Under the agreement, Joyce will be paid – retroactive to Dec. 20, 2021 – a base salary of $122.68 an hour with no benefits. The agreement could be terminated at any time without severance pay.

The new police chief will be paid $106.31 per hour with longevity pay of 11 percent each year, along with regular police management benefits. Parra will also be reimbursed up to $15,000 for “reasonable security improvements” to his home in Huntington Beach. Additionally, if Parra were to be terminated without cause he will receive a six-month severance.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 1 in the council chambers.