By Jorge Casuso

May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica on Tuesday hired its fifth City manager in as many years after the City Council unanimously appointed and approved a contract with Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi.

Chi, who at age 45 will run his fifth city, will assume Santa Monica's top executive post on July 24 with an annual salary of $410,604.

The city manager's contract includes health, retirement and other benefits provided under the City's Executive Pay Plan. It offers financial assistance to move into one of the country's most expensive housing markets.

Chi will receive $5,000 a month for up to one year in temporary rental assistance in Santa Monica or, if unable to find temporary housing for that price, up to 3 miles outside the ciy limits.

Chi can also receive a home loan not to exceed $2 million at a 3.5 percent interest rate with at least a 10 percent down payment and 9 months severance pay in the event of termination without cause.

"We're super excited," Mayor Lana Negrete said after the quick 7 to 0 vote. "We're looking forward to the new transition, a smooth transition, and we're really excited."

Councilmember Caroline Torosis said the Council had "no shortage of really, really excellent applicants."

"I think we felt really lucky to meet so many qualified folks, and I feel very, very confident that Mr. Chi is going to come here and lead us in a new and prosperous direction for out city."

The appointment came after a five-month search to find a permanent replacement for former City Manager David White, who made a surprise announcement in December that he would resign from the post in February.

Santa Monica has had four different City managers since Rick Cole was pressured to resign in April 2020 after proposing drastic budget cuts at the start of the coronavirus shutdown that were eventually adopted.

Cole was replaced on an interim basis by then City Attorney Lane Dilg, who held the post for 14 months before resigning to relocate to Washington, D.C.

Dilg was replaced on an interim basis by John Jalili, who had served as city manager for 15 years before retiring in 1999 and served as interim city manager until White filled the post in October 2021 on a permanent basis.

White had been chosen in July 2021 after a deeply divided Council took a record eight lengthy closed door sessions searching for a new city manager.

The unanimous vote to hire White came one and a half months after the Council voted 6 to 0 to hire Montebello City Manager René Bobadilla, who rejected the offer ("EXTRA -- Bobadilla Rejects Offer to Become Santa Monica City Manager," June 10, 2021).

Chi, who was first hired as a city manager when he was 27 by the City of Rosemead, has seen a meteoric rise that has not been without controversy ("Council Picks New City Manager," May 23, 2025).

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. He will become Santa Monica's first Asian American City Manager.