James Walgren
Walgren Resigns, Takes Planning Director Post In Los Altos
Cites diversity, broadening his experience as reasons
Commissioners saddened
By Kara Chalmers
Saratoga's Community Development Director, James Walgren, resigned from his position on Dec. 13, saying that his new job as planning director for Los Altos was too desirable an opportunity to pass up at this point in his career. His last day in Saratoga is Jan. 5.
Walgren's reason for leaving is two-fold.
"Los Altos is really a full service city," he said, noting that it provides full municipal services and is a community where people tend to live, work and shop that makes it more diverse than a place such as Saratoga, which is 99 percent residential.
"So in that sense, the job will broaden my experience," Walgren said.
Also, to achieve his own long-term goals, Walgren said he needs to show he can succeed in working in other cities. Walgren was hired in Saratoga as an assistant planner right out of college and has been here ever since.
"I've loved working here and have been successful here," he said. "My entire career has been in Saratoga and in some ways that can hurt you, looking five or 10 years down the road ... The easier decision would have been to stay here in Saratoga. This is certainly the less comfortable decision to make but I kind of feel it's the right decision to make at this point in my career."
As Saratoga's community development director, Walgren has been responsible for planning, building and code enforcement activities and programs, and for working on updating long-range elements of the city's General Plan. As staff support for the Saratoga Planning Commission, when new commissioners come on board, Walgren helps them get up to speed, and he prepares recommendations on land use applications for their decision making .
"Beyond that, I work closely with the commission, particularly the chairperson, and as a result I have grown very close and fond of them and have the utmost respect for them," Walgren said.
Many commissioners expressed sadness to hear the announcement at their meeting on Dec. 13.
"He had an awful lot to do but he always had time to help," said Commissioner Erna Jackman. Commissioner George Roupe said Walgren worked well with people and had a talent for pulling together consensus.
"He has so much to offer to so many different groups that Los Altos is a very lucky city right now," said Commission Chairman Chuck Page.
Roupe noted that for new commissioners, Walgren was a great resource because of his extensive knowledge.
"He always took every new member of the planning commission and did everything he could to help them get acclimated," Page said.
Walgren has been with the city of Saratoga for almost 12 years. He began as an assistant advanced planner in 1989 and became the community development director in 1997.
"You can't work in a community for 12 years and not get to know a lot of the people and I've really met some wonderful people, it really has become a home to me," he said of Saratoga.
The city's community development department, which has traditionally been made up of a director, one associate planner and two assistant planners, plus an office specialist, has had a huge turnover in the last year. Two assistant planners recently took jobs elsewhere, due mainly to the fact they could not afford housing near Saratoga and they were commuting long distances. The associate planner had left earlier in the year when she decided not to return to work after she took a maternity leave.
The city is still looking for a third planner.
Walgren graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1988, with a degree in city and regional planning with an emphasis in architectural and urban design. Today, he lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and 3-year-old son, and is expecting a new baby.
"City Manager Dave Anderson said the city would hire an interim director so it will have the time to conduct a full and complete recruitment.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
