Huntington Beach appoints Sean Joyce to interim city manager role

Huntington Beach has found an interim replacement for current City Manager Oliver Chi, who is headed for a new post in Irvine.

The Huntington Beach City Council, at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, unanimously named Sean Joyce to City Hall’s top job on a temporary basis.

Joyce, who coincidentally served as Irvine’s city manager for 12 year before retiring in 2018, is set to begin his time with Surf City on Monday.

Most recently, Joyce stepped in as the interim city manager for South Pasadena, a role he held from September 2020 until May.

“Thank you all for your confidence in me,” Joyce told the council on Tuesday night.

“I know that there’s a lot on your collective plates. There are great aspirations that you have shared with me and I give you my commitment that I will do everything I can, working with a very talented staff.”

Joyce’s contract states he will be retained on the city staff as an at-will employee in the capacity of a retired annuitant — an individual retired from a state agency appointed to do temporary, but critical work.

Joyce will be paid $122.68 an hour and receive no benefits outside of his salary.

Councilwoman Kim Carr said she was “absolutely thrilled” about Joyce’s coming on board, echoing sentiments from Mayor Pro Tem Mike Posey earlier in the meeting about how Joyce’s reputation preceded his arrival in Huntington Beach.

“So many people speak so highly of you and I think that you’re going to be a great transition right now as we look for a permanent city manager and it takes a little bit of pressure off of us as well that we can take the time to really be thoughtful and find the appropriate person for the long-term,” Carr said.

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