New Interim planning director has experience
By Kara Chalmers
The city has hired Irwin Kaplan, former planning director of Beverly Hills and Orinda, among other cities, to be Saratoga's interim community development director.
After almost 12 years with the city, James Walgren resigned as community development director in December, and his last day in Saratoga was Jan. 5. The city hired Kaplan, who began working in the city Jan. 10, to serve in the post temporarily until it finds Walgren's permanent replacement.
Kaplan left his job as Manteca's community development director last year, where he had been for about three years. He said he is retired "in theory." Since leaving Manteca, he has served as the interim community development director in Woodside.
Because of his job in Woodside, Kaplan will work in Saratoga only one day a week for now, but he said he would probably put in more days here as he phases out his commitment in Woodside.
"[Saratoga] is an interesting, articulate, active community, and that to me is exciting and challenging," Kaplan said.
A New York native, Kaplan has been in planning for 40 years and has worked for cities on both coasts. Kaplan, who now lives in Oakland, came to California when he got the job in Beverly Hills, where he worked for 14 years. Then, he worked in Pasadena, and later Orinda. Before moving to the Sunshine State, Kaplan ran the state of Connecticut's planning and housing redevelopment agency.
"I'm really here to help out with the transition," he said. "There's a lot to be done; it's an active community; there's a lot going on."
The city has contracted with executive search firm Avery Associates for an amount not to exceed $18,400 for recruitment of a permanent community development director. According to City Manager Dave Anderson, the city hopes to fill the permanent position within four months. Anderson said that he is pleased to have someone with Kaplan's experience working for the city.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
