HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4099
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4099)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 9/16/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Confirmation of Appointment of Hilary Gitelman as Director
of Planning and Community Environment
Title: Confirmation of Appointment of Hillary Gitelman as Director of
Planning and Community Environment
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the City Council approve the appointment of Hillary
Gitelman as Director of Planning and Community Environment.
BACKGROUND
Municipal Code Section 2.08.020 requires that the City Council approve the City
Manager’s appointment to certain positions, including the Director of Planning and
Community Environment.
DISCUSSION
Hillary Gitelman was selected as a result of a national search conducted by the executive
recruitment firm of Teri Black & Company. The City received 46 applications for the PCE
Director position. Six candidates were interviewed by two panels, made up of staff,
community members and peer professionals. The City Manager selected Ms. Gitelman
based on his interviews and the recommendations of the interview panels and
enthusiastically offered her the position, which she has accepted. Her starting date will
be October 28, 2013.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Please see the attached press release which outlines Ms. Gitelman’s extensive
experience. Ms. Gitelman will be an outstanding addition to the City at a very important
time in the City.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The annual salary for the Director of Planning and Community Environment will be
$197,500. All benefits and terms are consistent with the Management & Professional
Compensation Plan approved by Council.
Attachments:
Hillary Gitelman Press Release (PDF)
City of Palo Alto – 9/10/2013 Page 1 of 2
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Claudia Keith
Chief Communications Officer
650/329-2607
September 10, 2013 For Immediate Release
Hillary E. Gitelman Named Palo Alto Director of Planning and Community Environment
Palo Alto, CA – City Manager James Keene announced today that he has selected Hillary E. Gitelman to
serve as the City’s next Director of Planning and Community Environment, and will bring her
appointment to the City Council on September 16 for confirmation. Gitelman currently serves as the
Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services for Napa County. She is expected to begin in
her new position on Oct. 28 at a salary of $197,500. The selection was made following a national search
and recruitment process that included extensive input from community and business stakeholders, as
well as two interview panels with broad representation from the community.
“Hillary was our top candidate and we are fortunate to have someone with her breadth of experience
join the City in this critical leadership position as we address the very complex planning and
development issues facing us today and in the future,” said City Manager James Keene. “The role of
Director of Planning is central to the future our city. This is an especially important point in time for Palo
Alto. The Director position requires a person with the drive to make necessary changes in our plans and
policies and meet the demands of our community, and do so with diplomacy, and a commitment to
inclusiveness and open government. Hillary brings all of these qualities to her new role and will be a
tremendous asset to Palo Alto.”
For the past eight years, Gitelman has directed Napa County’s Department of Planning, Building and
Environmental Services where she leads a staff of 70 and is responsible for current and long-range
planning, engineering and conservation, parks, environmental health, building permits and code
enforcement. From 2001 to 2004, she directed the planning department of the Presidio Trust, a federal
agency established to preserve the Presidio of San Francisco for public use while making the park
financially self-sufficient. As part of this role, she was responsible for developing the award-winning
Presidio Trust Management Plan, as well as the PresidiGo shuttle system, and parking management
program, among others.
Gitelman also served as the Environmental Review Officer for the San Francisco Planning Department,
where she was responsible for the City and County’s compliance with the California Environmental
Quality Act and related laws. During her decade-long tenure with the City and County of San Francisco,
she conducted major environmental reviews for PacBell (now ATT) Park, the Mission Bay Redevelopment
Project, the Mid-Embarcadero Roadway, the Third Street Light Rail Project, and many other private and
public projects.
Previously, she held increasingly senior positions in planning and historic preservation, and is affiliated
with the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association; the Association of Environmental
Professionals; the American Planning Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
City of Palo Alto – 9/10/2013 Page 2 of 2
Gitelman holds a bachelor’s degree in the history of art from Yale and a master’s degree in historic
preservation from Columbia University, School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity, and look forward to working with the staff and citizens of Palo
Alto on a wide variety of planning and transportation issues,” said Gitelman.