Peter Naghavi Adds Responsibilities
NAGHAVI ADDS
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
In a press release issues this afternoon, Costa Mesa Communication Director Bill Lobdell announced that long time manager Peter Naghavi has agreed to assume additional responsibilities. In addition to the responsibilities included as Economic Development Director/Deputy CEO Naghavi will now assume the leadership of the Development Services Department.
In a press release issues this afternoon, Costa Mesa Communication Director Bill Lobdell announced that long time manager Peter Naghavi has agreed to assume additional responsibilities. In addition to the responsibilities included as Economic Development Director/Deputy CEO Naghavi will now assume the leadership of the Development Services Department.
GOOD NEWS ALL AROUNDIn my view, this is GREAT news for the City of Costa Mesa residents and staff. Naghavi, through his more than two decades of service to this city, has demonstrated to be a solid manager and a person who gets things done. It appears that development activities are beginning to ramp-up again, so his steady hand as head of Development Services will be essential.
NGUYEN RETURNS TO BUILDING OFFICIAL SLOT
According to the press release, Khanh Nguyen - who served as Interim Development Services Director - will return to his previous assignment as Building Official.
According to the press release, Khanh Nguyen - who served as Interim Development Services Director - will return to his previous assignment as Building Official.
Congratulations to Peter Naghavi on this new assignment and to Chief Executive Officer Tom Hatch for having the wisdom to make this move.
The text of the press release follows:
Peter Naghavi to serve as Economic and Development Services Director/Deputy CEO
COSTA MESA, CALIF. - Peter Naghavi, the city’s Economic Development Director/Deputy Chief Executive Officer, will also oversee Development Services beginning May 7.
Naghavi’s new title will be Economic and Development Services Director/Deputy CEO.
Khanh Nguyen, who served as interim
Development Services Director for the past year, had recently requested to
serve again as the City’s Building Official.
“I want to thank Khanh for
serving during a challenging time and for his extra efforts in guiding the
Development Services Department,” said Tom Hatch, the City’s Chief
Executive Officer.
By eliminating the Development
Services Director position, the city will save more than $225,000 annually.
Naghavi, who will receive no additional
salary, will concentrate on several key initiations, including:
- Increased focus on economic development;
- Internal recruitment for assistant Development Services director;
- Updating the City’s General Plan;
- Overseeing several large development projects in the works;
- Planning for the significant financial impact to the City due to state raids on redevelopment funding;
- Overseeing stepped up Code Enforcement and appropriately regulating drug and alcohol rehab facilities.
Labels: Bill Lobdell, Khanh Nguyen, Peter Naghavi, Tom Hatch
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 4/27/2012 04:55:00 PM
18 Comments:
Of course as a engineer, he knows nothing about Community Development, Planning or Building. Just because someone has worked for the city for two decades does not make him knowledgeable in those operations. I normally agree with you Geoff, but not on this appointment.
Hey Geoff, A more interesting tidbit is the recent article in the Daily Pilot about legal fees. Righeimer was making up numbers again until Muir shot him down and he had to make a correction.
Sam Grady,
I saw that article. As usual, Righeimer is just making it up as he goes along, assuming the public is too stupid to understand what is REALLY at play. The arrogance of these guys knows no bounds!
Don't Agree,
The issue here is leadership, not technical expertise. Nobody will expect Peter to be out writing code enforcement citations but will expect him to lead the organization. We still have a strong core staff despite some critical departures.
Muir? there's a voice of truth! lol
I disagree Geoff. As someone close to the situation, the department is in dire need of more than leadership. The staffing levels in Development Services is critically low. The department is short-staffed in so many divisions many critical technical services are being outsourced. The department needs an entire overhaul. Leadership will take care of only the surface issues; however, the majority of problems in the Development Services Department stems from a lack of personnel. I.E. - Planning- Dire need of additional Planners. Administration Staff- Hiring temporaries is not the solution. The City is spending and exorbitant amount of money on temporary personnel. Building Inspectors are all part-time and the Building Official works less than 7 hours a week- how can that department manage effectively? Code Enforcement- Code Officers spend 2 hours on the street and the rest at the gym or at their homes during working hours. (Yes, in City cars)Development Services is in shambles and needs excessive help- will Peter be the solution? I think not.
Hopefully this will provide the leadership desperately needed. All but one of the building inspectors have left and only two code officers remain. Recently the department tried to use an outsourced code officer but he was let go after a few days when it was discovered he was a felon.
Good luck Peter
Tim and AWM,
This is PRECISELY why leadership is needed at this time. As we approach this budget cycle - meetings are scheduled to address it 5 times in May - someone must be in place to be able to push back when the council majority tries to turn its "wish list" into a budget reality. The only place dollars can be found in the budget is staffing. These guys have no clue and cannot see beyond their own political agenda.
I think Peter is a good choice here, he brings a lot of experience and he is respected throughout city hall. He is what the city needs during this time of uncertainty
On a totally unrelated note, there was a great turnout for the Costa Mesa Community Run at Fairview Park this morning. Lots of student and community groups participated and volunteered. I wish to thank them all and all community members who turned out to run and support our city :)
the only thing that will possibly hold Peter back is his current workload. He is extremely capable and trustworthy. I hope the code enforcement comment is completely false and I suspect it is knowing those officers. But if Tim Stepphens has proof and names then he should provide that information. I suspect he is full of it though.
The Code Enforcement complaint is true. Proof was given to the Chief and the subject was counseled for his behavior but it has not ceased. Again, there are many issues which need to be addressed and happens when there are many chiefs but no leaders.
Maybe Peter isn't an expert in the community development field but he knows how to get things done and he will do just fine. After all the other executives left, he stayed and now his loyalty is being rewarded. We are lucky to have him.
Riggy- "great news, we just came across an extra $ 250,000 so let's sit down and figure out a way to waste it. I need another crazy scheme that we can throw this money at".
Riggy's got us up to his chins in attorney's fees..
Do we have the date yet for when estimated legal fees exceed the unfunded pension liabilities.
It's been mentioned before but still no OC Watchdog report from the register about these out of control legal bills. That Sforza or whatever her name is is always handy with some pension numbers for the overpaid execs but I think it would be fun to see what the actual attorneys are earning. If they are being paid by the city why don't THEY get listed on the "total compensation" report?
now that would be true transparency
It wouldn't do any good to have an article in the OCR about the the legal bills, because it would just give Riggy another chance to slam the employee groups and blame all of this on them.
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