Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi is Outta Here; updated

 

As my phone has been buzzing since last night, I got a reliable tip this afternoon that Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi has served notice and will leave Irvine to take a similar post for the city of Santa Monica.

I’m told the city council may hold an emergency meeting to counter the offer to retain Chi.

Chi joined Irvine in December 2022 from Huntington Beach.  Oliver has more than twenty-four years of extensive government experience at both the state and local level.  Prior to his job in Huntington Beach, he held a variety of positions with the cities of Monrovia, Barstow, Rosemead, Claremont, and Arcadia, along with serving for a period of time as a staff member to the California State Legislature.

Oliver, who is an Eagle Scout, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: May 23, 2025

CONTACT: Tati Simonian

Santa Monica announces Oliver Chi as pick for next city manager

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 23, 2025) —

Following a nationwide search, the Santa Monica City Council announced Friday the selection of Oliver Chi as the next city manager.

Chi comes from the city of Irvine, where he has served as city manager since 2021, and has also held leadership roles in the cities of Huntington Beach, Monrovia, Rosemead and Barstow. He will take over the post from Interim City Manager Elaine Polachek (https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2025/01/22/elaine-polachek-appointed-interim-city-manager) who has led the city since former City Manager David White resigned in February (https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2024/12/10/city-manager-david-white-announces-resignation).

“We are thrilled to welcome Oliver Chi to Santa Monica,” Mayor Lana Negrete said. “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.”

As Irvine’s city manager, Chi focused on developing a thriving, team-oriented workplace culture of excellence. His leadership philosophy centers on cultivating organizational health, empowering staff and driving mission-focused results.

Key achievements during his tenure in Irvine included establishing the landmark $1.2 billion, 300-acre Great Park expansion project, implementing groundbreaking housing initiatives under the Irvine Cares program, creating a city-led land development process to establish the $600 million Gateway Village project, and many other significant economic and cultural milestones.

As Santa Monica’s city manager, Chi will oversee a total city budget of $789.9 million and a workforce of more than 2,000 employees.

“I am overwhelmingly humbled and so exceptionally grateful for this opportunity to serve a city as dynamic and iconic as Santa Monica,” Chi said. “To have this opportunity to join the city organization – which has an unmatched legacy of civic innovation and an authentic commitment to core progressive human values that truly matter – is just an absolute honor, and I am so looking forward to collaborating with the City Council, the city staff, and the community to help shape and deliver a thriving future for all of Santa Monica.”

Chi holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is married to his college sweetheart, Bobbie Jo, and they are the proud parents of two children, Ian, 12, and Avery, 8.

Chi is slated to officially join the city on July 14 with an annual salary of $410,604. The City Council is set to formally approve his contract at its May 27 meeting.

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