Last week, we learned that Ken Hiatt, the Community Development and Sustainability Director for the city of Davis, is leaving his city position effective April 26, to take a similar job with the city of Woodland.
On Tuesday, the city of Davis wasted little time finding a replacement – a familiar face, Mike Webb. His position will take effect on May 20, 2013.
Mr. Webb, according to the city’s release, has over 17 years of experience in public administration, planning and economic development. He is currently the Director of Development Services for the city of Placerville.
However, prior to that, he had spent 15 years with the city of Davis in various capacities in the Community Development Department – most recently as a Principal Planner, overseeing current planning projects and Planning Commission responsibilities.
Mr. Webb graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California at Davis, and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.
Mike Webb is replacing Ken Hiatt, who, as we mentioned, has accepted a position with the city of Woodland as the Community Development Director. Mr. Hiatt has worked for the city of Davis for over 19 years, and has served as the city’s Community Development & Sustainability Director since March 2010. He begins his work in Woodland on May 1.
“I am thrilled that Mike will be returning to Davis to fill this position. I had the privilege of working with Mike for 15 years. It is hard to find someone with his level of competency of planning issues and understanding of the community’s values,” said Ken Hiatt in a statement from the city. “I am eager to take on new challenges with the City of Woodland and to support opportunities of continued cooperation between Davis and Woodland.”
“Ken has been instrumental in the success of many projects that have shaped Davis over the past two decades, and his talent and expertise will be missed. At the same time, we are excited to have Mike return to the City as our Community Development and Sustainability Director,” stated City Manager Steve Pinkerton. “Mike’s unique skill set and familiarity with Davis will certainly add value to the development services provided to Davis residents.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the community in this new capacity,” Mike Webb said in a release. “This is an exciting time to work collaboratively with the Davis leadership, skilled staff, and engaged community on a broad range of projects and initiatives.”
The change comes at a critical time in Davis. After years of relative inactivity on the development front, over the past few weeks citizens and commissions have been weighing in and providing comments on the Cannery Project at the Hunt-Wesson site.
However, the move may be personal as much as professional. Mr. Hiatt moved his family to Woodland in 2012. Moreover, the move reunited him with Woodland’s City Manager Paul Navazio, with whom he worked for nearly a decade from 2004 to 2012 before Mr. Navazio left the city of Davis to take over as the Woodland City Manager.
In Woodland, Ken Hiatt will replace Nick Ponticello. According to Woodland’s news release, Mr. Hiatt will have responsibility for managing short- and long-term planning, including Woodland’s General Plan Update, economic development, housing programs, building inspection and code enforcement, as well as the city’s engineering function and capital program.
In a statement, Mr. Navazio said, “Over the years I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for Ken’s skill set, particularly in the areas of urban planning, economic development and downtown revitalization. He is widely respected within the region and has existing relationships with the development community and strong ties to the UC Davis team working to promote growth in the local and regional economy and employment base.”
He added, “”I am thrilled that Ken has agreed to join my staff in Woodland as our new community development director, and I have full confidence that he will make an outstanding addition to our management team.”
The Daily Democrat noted that Mr. Hiatt takes over leadership of their city’s Community Development Department at a critical time for them, as “the city is undertaking an update to its General Plan, reassessing city policies and resources aimed at advancing city planning and economic development goals, as well as streamlining its development review and permitting process.”
He told the Woodland paper, “In the time that I have lived here I have grown to appreciate the rich history, thriving entrepreneurial spirit, and strong sense of community in Woodland. I feel privileged to have this opportunity and look forward to serving alongside the city leadership in helping to shape its future.”
In the meantime, for the city of Davis, Mike Webb represents a familiar face. The issue of the Cannery looms large, presently.
There appear to be three solid votes to move forward on it, but the question, given the size of the project, is whether the voters will attempt to put it on the ballot even though it is not technically a Measure R parcel, as it resides in the current city limits and is zoned for urban uses.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
