By Susan Motander, special for the Monrovia Weekly
Almost a year after Laurie Lile retired last October, the Monrovia City Council has found a candidate to fill the position. The City Attorney, Craig Steele will report tonight to the City Council on the contact he was directed to negotiate with Oliver Chi. the council will then vote on the contract, which is set to take effect October 13.
Oliver Chi. Courtesy Photo
Chi has most recently been the Assistant City Manager in Barstow. Prior to that he was the City Manager in Rosemead, a position from which he resigned in 2009 under political pressure from a newly elected council. He started his career in municipal government in the City Manager’s Office in Monrovia’s neighboring city, Arcadia.
Mayor Mary Ann Lutz said she was pleased with the selection of Chi saying “I am very excited to wok with this new city manager who not only understands the San Gabriel Valley, but the Monrovia way as well. Oliver comes to us with a knowledge of municipal government, of how to overcome obstacles, and of how to find solutions to big problems.”
Council Member Tom Adams also praised Chi saying that he was the “right person for the job as this time” and calling him “bright and energetic.”
Chi said he was looking forward to the new position in Monrovia. He was raised in Arcadia and graduated from UCLA. He did his graduate studies at USC.
Chi met his wife of ten years at UCLA (no question for which team he cheers). They currently live in the Inland Empire with their 2 year old son, Ian. Chi said that they were looking forward to moving to this area soon.
Source Beacon Media News