By Susan Motander, for the Monrovia Weekly
Oliver Chi, Monrovia’s new City Manager. Courtesy Photo
On Tuesday, September 16, the Monrovia City Council hired Oliver Chi as the new City Manager. The city has been operating with interim City Manager for almost a year since the retirement of Laurie Lile in October of 2013. Chi will officially start work on October 13, but has already been spending a great deal of time in the city.
City Attorney Craig reported the details of the three-year employment contract that includes an annual salary of $195,000 year, with the potential of a 5% bonus annually and a maximum 5% annual maximum. In addition, Chi will receive a $450 monthly auto allowance.
Chi was raised in adjacent Arcadia and attended schools there. He earned his BA in Political Science at UCLA and a Masters in Public Administration at the University of Southern California. He says that since he met his wife of 10 years, Bobbie Jo, at UCLA, he remains loyal to the Bruins. The couple has a 2-year-old son, Ian.
Prior to coming to Monrovia, Chi was 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.
In brief remarks to the council on Tuesday Chi said, “What a privilege to be here. I am honored to be a part of such a special place.”
He spoke candidly of his experience in Rosemead saying “It is no secret that I had a fabulous career flop in the City of Rosemead.” However, he added that he was “looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and working” to prove that the council had made the right decision in hiring him.
Mayor Mary Ann Lutz praising Chi relating that he brought with him extensive experience in budgeting, human resources, and redevelopment along with the ability to work collaboratively with other cities.
The entire Council welcomed him with brief words of praise. Alexander Blackburn noted the council was a group of “Five people who rarely se eye to eye” but that they had been unanimous in their selection of him. Council Member Becky Shevlin echoed that comment saying: “it is a great day when all of us can agree.”
Council Member Larry Spicer said he was looking forward to working with Chi while Council Member Tom Adams joked that the members of the City staff who were present were all smiling, teasingly questioning whether it was in response to “you (Chi) coming or Fran (Delach – Interim Manager) leaving.”
Source Beacon Media News