— a message from Diane Sugimura, Director

On October 26, 2003 DCLU will become the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). Although our name is shorter, the change reflects the fact that our responsibilities have grown to include a broad range of long-range planning duties. In the past year, CityDesign and the Land Use Code and Policy Development team have been joined by the Comprehensive Plan team and the Executive Director and staff for the Seattle Planning Commission.

Mayor Nickels initiated the move to make this department the home for long-range physical planning, and the City Council has supported that change. At the same time, both the Mayor and City Council continue to insist that we find ways to improve our overall services to our applicants, and the community. We at DCLU accept that support and challenge.

Our long-range planners have a number of significant projects on their agenda, including: the 10-year update of Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, station area planning for the monorail, the Central Waterfront Plan, revisions to the commercial sections of the Land Use Code, and housing strategies for the University District and South Lake Union.

We are also continuing our work to improve permitting services and remain committed to meeting the permit turnaround goals set for us by Mayor Nickels. And we are working to improve our code enforcement services and information technology.

“Planning and Development” handles many activities that are directly related to the quality of our built and natural environment. Our duties now range from facilitating the development of a Central Waterfront Plan, to reviewing a new single family residence, to issuing side sewer repair permits online.

To meet our many challenges, I have reorganized and expanded my executive team:

• Craig Ladiser is now Deputy Director of DCLU. Under Craig’s direct leadership is the important work of continuing our technology improvements (updating our 20 year old automation system), leading the interdepartmental permitting team working on improving permitting City-wide, and developing the department’s long range strategies for continuing and improving our services in the coming years. Previously head of Operations, Craig’s experience and leadership will provide invaluable support to all aspects of the department.
• Bob Laird is now Director of Operations, the group responsible for permitting activities in the department, from intake through review to final inspection. Bob was one of the managers of Code Compliance, and brings considerable code enforcement experience to the job, including the ability to facilitate the resolution of disputes. He is solution-oriented, a quality I find indispensable in our work, especially in our regulatory role.
• Karen White is now Director of Code Compliance. Karen was also a manager in the compliance group, and brings to her new tasks a solid understanding of what it takes to succeed in the difficult world of code compliance. Karen is also solutions- oriented; I look forward to her strong leadership in this work, which supports our community in so many different ways.
• John Rahaim is our new Planning Director. When I announced John’s selection (see “New DCLU Planning Director Selected,” Sept. DCLUINFO), I said I was looking for someone with the knowledge, experience, and passion to make long-range planning a central element for Seattle in preparing for the years and decades to come. It’s a big task, and John is the person for the position.
• Wendell Bowerman, our Chief Financial Officer, continues in his role as steward of our financial state. I will continue to rely on his solid understanding of how we successfully balance our revenues and services.
• Alan Justad, head of Community Relations, will continue as the department’s lead in public information and ombudsing. Alan will lead our efforts to articulate our expanded role in planning, development and code compliance to the community.

I look forward to hearing from you in the days and months ahead. Whether it’s because of a concern you have over a permit, an idea you have for improving our services, or your thoughts in a stakeholder session regarding the future of our commercial code for land use, I welcome the opportunity to discuss something we all have a passion for—a growing, vibrant Seattle.