LISA KIM is retiring as city manager of Garden Grove (City of Garden Grove photo).

Lisa Kim will be retiring on Nov. 2 from her post as city manager of Garden Grove.

The announcement was made on Thursday. She was a history-making figure in Garden Grove as the city’s first female city manager and the first Asian-American to hold that post.

She has served three years as the city’s top appointed official and before that was assistant city manager and community and economic development director.

Kim came to Garden Grove after working in leadership roles for the cities of Pomona and Orange.

During her tenure she was responsible for a comprehensive plan to address homelessness, development of the Civic Center Revitalization project – which included a new $152 million police facility – and the city’s response to the GKN Aerospace hazmat crisis and the evacuation of an estimated 50,000 people in West Garden Grove and parts of Cypress, Stanton and Westminster.

“Serving Garden Grove has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” said Kim. “I am proud of what we accomplished, grateful for the trust placed in me and thankful for the relationships I built as an active member of community organizations such as the Garden Grove Host Lions Club and Boys & Girls of Garden Grove. Garden Grove will always hold a special place in my life.”