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Leads and directs the activities, operations, projects and programs of the Community Development Department. I oversee the following functions: Planning, Building, Development Engineering, Transportation, Environmental Services and Sustainability, Code Enforcement and the Business License program. Establishes, implements and evaluates departmental goals, priorities, procedures and policies. Provides staff assistance to the City Manager, City Council, commissions and committees. Represents the City and the Community Development Department to outside groups and organizations.

As a member of the City of Concord team, serving as the Director of Community Development, overseeing the Transportation, Engineering, Planning, Housing and Building Divisions, I strive to enhance the importance of an “economic development ecosystem”, empowering the Department team to consider themselves critical to the economic success of the community. Creative, Dynamic and Experienced Leadership – 26 years of professional experience and 16 years in a leadership role; focused on building an innovative, collaborative and solutions-oriented environment.Results-Focused Management – Developed solid track record of improving performance by driving positive outcomes with the City of Concord, in nearly five years with the City of Vallejo and 10 years with LSA Associates.Technical Expertise – Increasingly held responsible multi-disciplinary positions in economic development, long-range planning, development review, housing and budgeting.Strategic and Innovative Communicator - Advanced unique and focused award-winning business attraction programs that resulted in improved regional prominence for both the City of Concord and the City of Vallejo.Some notable accomplishments with the City of Concord include:• Lead five divisions with 48 full-time staff and a $48 million annual budget.Develop and promote a Department-wide vision that focuses on a solutions-based, innovation-centered approach

Professional Experience - Lead three Divisions with 26 full-time staff and a $10 million annual budget.Establish Department-wide vision to maximize coordination in the “Economic Ecosystem”.Guide reorganization of Department to include Development Engineering Division.Direct Department-wide implementation of Results-Based Performance Management system.Lead high-profile Department in strengthening tax base and investment.Develop strategy for effective implementation of the Economic Development Strategy.Prepare and oversee development of a comprehensive audit of Development Review Process.Lead effort to appropriate budget to implement recommendations.Key AccomplishmentsIncreased interest in business development and investment.Prepared and managed effective development and implementation of comprehensive Marketing Program. Oversaw successful public rollout of marketing initiatives, including www.choosevallejo.com.Formed strategic teams to manage outreach efforts and effectively respond to inquiries.Developed plan to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Development Review process.Managed preparation of work program to prioritize process improvements.Led code amendments to streamline review and minimize costs for key industry sectors.Utilized innovate outreach methods to announce changes in Department organization.Drove continued implementation of best practices to improve staff performance.Fostered culture of continual performance feedback and communication between staff and supervisors.Encouraged managers to support and pursue continued staff training, professional development opportunities.Led efforts to improve and implement record systems to improve research efficiency and project tracking tools.Led a team to address comprehensive performance and systems enhancements to the development review process.

Professional ExperienceDirect and organize Planning Division activities of six-member staff.Coordinate activities from development projects through direct service to applicants at public counter.Prepare and administer annual Division budget of $850,000.Manage General Plan and Zoning Code update and other long-range planning efforts.Review and direct work of three consultant teams on policy and public engagement initiative.Update numerous municipal code sections and lead update of Housing Element.Lead staff to five Boards and Commissions.Key AccomplishmentsContributed to three City-wide initiatives and actions.Led Planning and Intelligence Section as part of emergency response team to August 2014 earthquake.Served as internal trainer and steering team member for Results-Based Performance Management initiative.Represented Economic Development Department in Development Review Process Improvement Task Force.Enhanced customer service, reducing complaints from 10 per month to 1 per month in two years.Developed new methods of procuring customer feedback, such as staff reporting of public interactions.Contacted individual applicants to solicit service feedback as consistent practice.Used regular staff meetings to communicate customer feedback to address issues.Formulated relationships with community, business and citizens to strengthen communications.Reduced average development review time from five months to three months.Developed regular project status reports with planning staff to drive efficiency.Established goals with staff to define time limits for project review.Implemented management practices to increase staff accountability.Developed individual performance plans and monthly progress reviews with all Division staff.Provided honest feedback in reviews to address individual performance issues.

Served as Co-Coordinator for the 2012 APA-California Awards Program. Duties include preparation of program timelines, program promotion, recruitment and selection of awards jury, coordination and facilitation of Jury Deliberation Day, preparation for and hosting of the Awards Luncheon at the 2012 Chapter Conference in October.Assisted in the preparation of follow-up media information associated with awards recipients.

Coordinate the Section-wide awards program, including facilitating recruitment of jurors and volunteers, review and distribution of awards applications, and planning of awards gala.

Managed the South San Francisco office of LSA Associates, Inc., a highly respected environmental planning firm with ten offices in two states. Served as full-time City Planner for the Town of Colma under long-term contract from 2005-2009, and as full-time Deputy City Planner for the Town of Colma from 2002-2005.Responsible for all personnel and management decisions, setting priorities and regularly measuring accomplishments.Developed and implemented strategic goals and objectives and prepared annual budgets while controlling expenditures.Cultivated thorough understanding of firm-wide operations and disciplines, while maintaining and expanding unique niche of services as consulting generalist planners to municipalities throughout San Mateo County and as experts in the field of aggregate mining throughout Northern California.In addition to generalist planning services, specialized in consulting services to local governments associated with housing, grant writing and administration, redevelopment, and policy/code preparation.Negotiated service agreements, acquired new clients and successfully managed existing clients through effective team-building, quality project management and technical excellence.

Served as Deputy City Planner from June 2002 through July 2005. Promoted to City Planner from July 2005 through September 2009.Provided oversight of all planning and code compliance functions of the Colma Planning Department, including current, long-range and environmental planning activities. Prepared annual departmental budget for six consecutive fiscal years, including participation in the forecast of funding needed for staffing; monitored and approved expenditures; implemented adjustments. Supervised professional, technical and support staff, determined workloads and schedules, developed and interpreted policies and procedures, effectively evaluated staff performance and managed personnel issues.Established and implemented Departmental Mission Statement, and developed annual work program to meet the stated objectives of the City Council.Established and managed successful Code Enforcement program, with emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach.Developed, implemented and administered deposit-based service and application fee system to reduce burden of staff time on the Town’s General Fund.Initiated, prepared and managed implementation of Economic Development Strategy, including significant civic engagement component. Updated General Plan, Housing Element, prepared numerous ordinances, developed and implemented significant programs and policies. Represented Town on Countywide matters, including participation in the development of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment at a subregional level; participated in the development of a Countywide Sustainable Communities Strategy.

Administered City-wide housing programs, including marketing and management of First-time Homebuyer Program, Façade Improvement Program and Multi-Family Rehabilitation Loan Program.Reviewed applications for development; evaluated alternatives and conformance with City policies, ordinances, the General Plan and state and federal laws, including CEQA. Prepared and presented staff reports and recommendations to various subcommittees, the Planning Commission and City Council.Managed consultant contacts; included determining scope of work and budgets, tracking budgets and approving contract payments.Managed various Redevelopment programs, updated five-year Redevelopment Plan; sought programming opportunities for Community Development Block Grant funding.Managed multi-disciplinary Development Review Committee; responsible for review of newly-submitted applications and pre-development conceptual plans.

Reviewed development proposals and other requests made to the Economic and Community Development Department for conformance with policies, regulations and guidelines; compile comments from reviewing departments; prepared staff reports and made recommendations.Reviewed and approved or denied plan checks for building projects.Served as the liaison for the Planning Division with other divisions, departments and outside agencies; negotiated and resolved sensitive and controversial issues.Provided assistance to the public on inquiries and pre-application matters.Established schedule and methods for providing site development review, plan checking, permit issuance, and monitored, reviewed and evaluated work flow.Prepared comprehensive public handout and informational materials on permits and processes throughout the Economic and Community Development Department.

Prepared various code amendments, General Plan Amendments and specialized ordinances; including Wireless Communications regulations and Downtown Specific Plan guidelines.Gathered, maintained and analyzed demographic data, such as Census and Department of Finance information.Managed an update to the City’s Local Coastal Plan.Responsible for all aspects of development review and current planning, including application review, environmental review, preparation of staff reports and presentation to various boards, commissions and City Council.Represented City at Countywide and regional meetings.

Assisted in the preparation of the first Citywide Parks Master Plan.Assisted in the comprehensive update of the City of Turlock General Plan and subsequent Zoning Ordinance update.Led a multi-disciplinary review team during pre-development and pre-applications stages.Led a multi-disciplinary effort to update the City’s permit tracking system, working closely with the Building Division to foster implementation.Managed a variety of current planning projects, including review of proposals, environmental review, preparation of recommendations and presentation to Planning Commission, Design Review Committee and City Council.

Acted as Senior Planner during incumbent’s extended leave.Responsible for all aspects of development review and current planning, including application review, environmental review, preparation of staff reports and presentation to various boards, commissions and City Council.Reviewed plans for consistency with conditions of approval prior to issuance of building permits.Managed grant writing effort to fund Specific Plan for area previously used by railroad to establish new neighborhood with significant linear park and mixed-use components.Led the effort to update the City’s Subdivision Regulations.Participated in annexation matters, made recommendations to City Manager and City Council and presented findings to the public.

Assisted Planning Division staff with various tasksAssigned current planning applications, including variances and Conditional Use Permits; prepared staff reports and resolutions, and presenting findings to Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board and City Council.Primary public contact on general questions regarding zoning and land use.