Click this link to optimize Open City Hall for screen readers Skip to Content
Open City Hall
Opengov
New CDD Director

What is the ideal candidate for the City of San Luis Obispo's Community Development Director?

This topic is closed

Click Summary, then click on options below to form the filter, then click Apply Filter

55 registered responses


What statement best describes your relationship with the City of San Luis Obispo? (Please check all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
I am a resident of San Luis Obispo. 74.5% 41
I work in San Luis Obispo. 63.6% 35
I own a business in San Luis Obispo. 32.7% 18
I am a building design professional, engineer, developer, and/or customer of the CDD Department in San Luis Obispo 32.7% 18
I am a college/university student in San Luis Obispo. 3.6% 2
I visit San Luis Obispo at least once per month for other than work. 14.5% 8
Other 5.5% 3

What local issues do you think should be the new Community Development Director's focus? (Please select your Top 5 issues)

Response Percent Response Count
Building health and safety 20.0% 11
Continued focus on design, placemaking and community building 36.4% 20
Continued implementation of the City’s affordable housing goals and programs 67.3% 37
Financial health of the City 36.4% 20
Focused work on historic preservation 18.2% 10
Implementing adopted polices which address climate change in all development projects and identifying new polices to keep San Luis Obispo as a leader in this field 45.5% 25
Innovative planning to help the City’s downtown business district and other neighborhood business districts 50.9% 28
Lack of diversity, which creates structural inequity issues that exacerbate land use challenges 20.0% 11
Managing the City’s strategic planning efforts focused on homelessness 43.6% 24
Neighborhood wellness and safety, including code enforcement 30.9% 17
Planning for projects which will implement improvements of capital infrastructure (facilities, parks, community center, etc.) 61.8% 34
Planning for projects, policies, or practices that address economic/business, climate/economic and business development 49.1% 27
Property maintenance and beautification 9.1% 5
Other 14.5% 8

Please rank from 1-5 (1 being highest) the 5 types of career experience that you think is most important for the next Community Development Director to possess.

Excellent customer service and communications skills
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 67.3% 37
2 20.0% 11
3 5.5% 3
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 1.8% 1
Experience as a Community Development Director
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 23.6% 13
2 25.5% 14
3 34.5% 19
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 10.9% 6
Experience as an Assistant Community Development Director, Deputy Community Development Director, or Department Head
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 21.8% 12
2 41.8% 23
3 20.0% 11
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 10.9% 6
Experience building a strong economic base
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 27.3% 15
2 34.5% 19
3 18.2% 10
4 16.4% 9
5 - Not important 3.6% 2
Experience in an agency of similar size, scope, and complexity
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 27.3% 15
2 34.5% 19
3 27.3% 15
4 7.3% 4
5 - Not important 3.6% 2
Experience with California law, rules, and regulations
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 56.4% 31
2 18.2% 10
3 16.4% 9
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 3.6% 2
Experience working in a town with a large University
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 12.7% 7
2 34.5% 19
3 27.3% 15
4 18.2% 10
5 - Not important 7.3% 4
Improving performance management and team development
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 43.6% 24
2 27.3% 15
3 12.7% 7
4 9.1% 5
5 - Not important 7.3% 4
Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into land use decisions.
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 25.5% 14
2 27.3% 15
3 18.2% 10
4 10.9% 6
5 - Not important 18.2% 10
Private sector development/planning experience
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 27.3% 15
2 23.6% 13
3 25.5% 14
4 10.9% 6
5 - Not important 12.7% 7
Proven ability to effectively create/maintain momentum and effectively lead
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 54.5% 30
2 27.3% 15
3 10.9% 6
4 1.8% 1
5 - Not important 5.5% 3
Proven track record of results
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 41.8% 23
2 40.0% 22
3 5.5% 3
4 3.6% 2
5 - Not important 9.1% 5
Public sector/local government experience
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 30.9% 17
2 29.1% 16
3 23.6% 13
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 10.9% 6
Strong land use policy experience
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 41.8% 23
2 32.7% 18
3 14.5% 8
4 5.5% 3
5 - Not important 5.5% 3
Track record of positive community relations
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 56.4% 31
2 25.5% 14
3 9.1% 5
4 1.8% 1
5 - Not important 7.3% 4
Track record of strong City Council/Commission/Committee relations
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 38.2% 21
2 34.5% 19
3 10.9% 6
4 10.9% 6
5 - Not important 5.5% 3
Other
Response Percent Response Count
1 - Very Important 18.2% 10
2 1.8% 1
3 14.5% 8
4 3.6% 2
5 - Not important 61.8% 34

What personal attributes of the next Community Development Director are most important to you? (Please select all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
Approachability/accessibility 63.6% 35
Collaborative style, both inside City Hall and with the public 81.8% 45
Customer service oriented 61.8% 34
Dynamic leadership skills 40.0% 22
Entrepreneurial mindset 30.9% 17
Excellent communicator 70.9% 39
Goal and solutions-oriented 80.0% 44
Innovative, creative, and progressive 70.9% 39
Involvement/presence in the community 38.2% 21
People person and relationship builder 40.0% 22
Strategic thinker / visionary 60.0% 33
Strong financial understanding 41.8% 23
Strong manager of people and resources 54.5% 30
Strong relationship with Council, staff, and the community 49.1% 27
Strong work ethic, integrity, and discipline 70.9% 39
Track record of career success 43.6% 24

Are there any other comments that you would like to add to help the City define the ideal candidate and be successful in recruiting the next Community Development Director?

Answered
37
Skipped
18

If you live in the City of San Luis Obispo, how long have you lived here?

Response Percent Response Count
1-5 years 10.9% 6
6-10 years 12.7% 7
11-20 years 16.4% 9
21-40 years 34.5% 19
41 years or more 10.9% 6
I don't live in San Luis Obispo 14.5% 8

What is your age?

Response Percent Response Count
18-29 12.7% 7
30-39 16.4% 9
40-49 20.0% 11
50-59 18.2% 10
60-69 14.5% 8
70 or older 14.5% 8
Prefer not to say 3.6% 2

What is your race/ethnicity? (Please select all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
African/African American/Black 1.8% 1
Asian/Asian American/Desi 3.6% 2
Hispanic American/Latinx 7.3% 4
Native American/American Indian 1.8% 1
White/Caucasian 78.2% 43
Prefer not to say 12.7% 7

Which gender do you most identify with? (Please select all that apply.)

Response Percent Response Count
Woman 45.5% 25
Man 45.5% 25
Non-binary 1.8% 1
Prefer not to say 7.3% 4
Craig Smith inside Neighborhood 5
January 26, 2023, 9:57 AM
  • What statement best describes your relationship with the City of San Luis Obispo? (Please check all that apply)
    • I work in San Luis Obispo.
    • I own a business in San Luis Obispo.
    • I am a building design professional, engineer, developer, and/or customer of the CDD Department in San Luis Obispo
    • Other - I have had a working relationship with the Community Development Division of SLO for over 40 years. Michael will be tough to replace....
  • What local issues do you think should be the new Community Development Director's focus? (Please select your Top 5 issues)
    • Building health and safety
    • Continued focus on design, placemaking and community building
    • Planning for projects which will implement improvements of capital infrastructure (facilities, parks, community center, etc.)
    • Planning for projects, policies, or practices that address economic/business, climate/economic and business development
    • Other - Direct dialogue with the professional community. Have an "open door" policy for input and feedback on an informal, substantive basis.
  • Please rank from 1-5 (1 being highest) the 5 types of career experience that you think is most important for the next Community Development Director to possess.
    • Excellent customer service and communications skills - 1 - Very Important
    • Experience as a Community Development Director - 2
    • Experience as an Assistant Community Development Director, Deputy Community Development Director, or Department Head - 2
    • Experience building a strong economic base - 2
    • Experience in an agency of similar size, scope, and complexity - 1 - Very Important
    • Experience with California law, rules, and regulations - 3
    • Experience working in a town with a large University - 4
    • Improving performance management and team development - 1 - Very Important
    • Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into land use decisions. - 4
    • Private sector development/planning experience - 1 - Very Important
    • Proven ability to effectively create/maintain momentum and effectively lead - 1 - Very Important
    • Proven track record of results - 2
    • Public sector/local government experience - 2
    • Strong land use policy experience - 1 - Very Important
    • Track record of positive community relations - 2
    • Track record of strong City Council/Commission/Committee relations - 2
    • Other - 1 - Very Important
  • What personal attributes of the next Community Development Director are most important to you? (Please select all that apply)
    • Approachability/accessibility
    • Customer service oriented
    • Goal and solutions-oriented
    • People person and relationship builder
  • Are there any other comments that you would like to add to help the City define the ideal candidate and be successful in recruiting the next Community Development Director?
    As earlier mentioned, the new director must have a very capable and open relationship with the professional community. This should be in the top five requirements for hire. Michael was very good at that and it resonated with the professional design community.
  • If you live in the City of San Luis Obispo, how long have you lived here?
    • 41 years or more
  • What is your age?
    • 70 or older
  • What is your race/ethnicity? (Please select all that apply)
    • White/Caucasian
  • Which gender do you most identify with? (Please select all that apply.)
    • Man
Open City Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Open City Hall is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.

Your answers will NOT be saved

This is the form that was used to collect responses. It's here so you can try it and see how it worked when the topic was open.

The topic is now closed, and anything you enter into this form will not be saved.

* required
* required
1 - Very Important
2
3
4
5 - Not important
Excellent customer service and communications skills
Experience as a Community Development Director
Experience as an Assistant Community Development Director, Deputy Community Development Director, or Department Head
Experience building a strong economic base
Experience in an agency of similar size, scope, and complexity
Experience with California law, rules, and regulations
Experience working in a town with a large University
Improving performance management and team development
Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into land use decisions.
Private sector development/planning experience
Proven ability to effectively create/maintain momentum and effectively lead
Proven track record of results
Public sector/local government experience
Strong land use policy experience
Track record of positive community relations
Track record of strong City Council/Commission/Committee relations
Other
* required
* required
* required
* required
* required
* required
Check out our guidelines for civility

Fields marked with * are required

Back to Intro