The Huntington Beach city council voted unanimously to appoint Sean Joyce as its new interim city manager on Dec. 14.

Joyce served as Irvine’s city manager for 12 years and has over 33 years of municipal management experience.

The city needed to choose a new city manager following current city manager Oliver Chi’s decision to leave in order to serve as Irvine’s next city manager.

“When the issue of interim city manager came up, last week I received several unsolicited phone calls recommending we seek you out. So your reputation precedes you,” Mayor Pro Tem Mike Posey said during a Dec. 14 meeting.

“I look forward to working with you and staff to see that we realize every aspiration that you have for the community that you serve,” Mayor Barbara Delgleize added.

Joyce will be paid $122.68 per hour for his work, with the council able to terminate him at any time with no severance package.