Politics & Government

Lakewood Hiring New 'City Planner' Position

The position — in the city's planning and development department — will pay between $46,000 and $65,000.

During the past two years, the city’s department of planning and development has been somewhat under-staffed. 

And with a reported $60 million in development on Detroit Avenue alone during that time, the workload hasn’t gotten any lighter.

On Monday night, city council OK’d the creation of the new ‘city planner’ position. 

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Two years ago, the city merged the director positions for the departments of planning and development with building and housing.

Dru Siley, who was named the head of both departments, said his previous post (of assistant director of planning and development) went unfilled for two years.

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Another project specialist post wasn’t filled after a retirement in the department.

“We had an opportunity to consider how our department is organized and we developed a position that’s a modification of the assistant development director,” Siley said. “Based on our workload, our department is interested in filling the position as quickly as possible.”

The position will pay between $46,000 and $65,000.

“Our goal is to be as lean as possible, but to have the right number of staff in the right positions,” said Siley. 

The city is now accepting applications, however Bryce Sylvester, who was hired last year as a project specialist, has applied and is a likely candidate for the post.

Sylvester has worked on several key city initiatives, including the Lakewood Master Bike Plan and organizing the Community Vision Workshops.


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