Following a nation-wide search, Thursday July 30th 2009 City Manager Andy Souza named John Dugan to the post of Planning and Development Director for the City of Fresno. Mr. Dugan will begin work with the City of Fresno on September 1st.

While Mr. Dugan is amid what I can only imagine is a very busy transition from Deputy Director of Planning for the City of Los Angeles to Director of Planning and Development for the City of Fresno he made time to answer a few questions for archop.

KS: What had drawn you to apply for the national search for the new Director of the Planning and Development Dept. for the City of Fresno?

JD: I applied for the job in Fresno because I knew Fresno had many similarities to Oklahoma City of 10 or so years ago..a city with a good vision, plan and community spirit, but needing some expertise in implementing that vison and steering the spirit. I did that successfully in OKC. and it was very satisfying to see that community support projects and bond issues based on the proven competence of the mayor, city manager, and city staff. I can see that happening in Fresno and want to be a part of it. Also, the Planning Department in Fresno is very much like the one I managed in Oklahoma City and in Topeka before that, so I am familiar with its organizational and structural issues and various roles and responsibilities. It is key to good community development that planning and building, housing, and community development and codes enforcement be coordinated under one management authority and philosophy.

downtown Oklahoma City at night

KS: Are there any moment(s) in you career in planning that you are most proud?

JD: I am very proud of the planning of Oklahoma City over the last 7 years where we implemented over 200 policies of the 2001 Comprehensive Plan, including new sector and area plans, park plans, strategic plans, and a whole series of new development codes. Likewise, in Topeka, where a new economic development plan provided the rationale for a $20 million bond issue for construction of industrial parks and, subsequently, 5000 new jobs in a city which previously had a net job growth of .4% per decade. Helping Nordstroms develop a new store to revitalize downtown Norfolk, Va, and publishing the Monumental Core Plan for central Washington, DC also stand out.

KS: Are there any moment(s) that were less than successful that are good learning experiences that can be applied to Fresno?

JD: In Aurora, CO we developed two general plans for that city of 300,000 outside Denver. These plans changed the future of the city, but were completed with very little public input. They provided the rationale to annexe 100 square miles of vacant property and to expand the city by 200,000 person…In retrospect I would have done more to insure that more people were involved in that planning process.

KS: There are many ongoing and challenging projects being coordinated by the department (metro rural loop, SEGA, Downtown and Neighborhood Specific Plan, etc.) What is you strategy for digging into these existing efforts?

JD: An in-depth briefing from the Planning Department management staff is being prepared as I type this and will be ready for me when I arrive in September. I also plan to visit with the Mayor, City Manager,other department heads, city council members and planning commissioners to gain a good perspective on city issues. I also plan to meet with a cross section of community and development leaders to talk about their needs and issues.

KS: In the City of Fresno press release it said you “oversaw a complete overhaul of the [Oklahoma City’s] development codes.” Is that something that is planned for Fresno? And what is the starting point for that?

JD: I will be looking at all of Fresno’s development codes with an eye to their utility towards implementing the City’s adopted plans and policies and their efficiency towards furthering good development processes and products. In OKC that meant rewriting the land subdivision codes, sign codes, landscape requirements, zoning ordinance, and adding substantial architectural design reviews to key redevelopment areas. These and other initiatives were adopted with little controversy since I included all
stakeholders in a very collaborative process of ordinance review and revision. This takes time but is proven to be successful.

KS: I see you are a member of the APA. Will you be attending the APA California Conference this September at Tahoe? Will you be speaking in any of the sessions?

JD: I intend to attend the APA conference this fall if I can find the time!

KS: Have you investigated where in Fresno you’ll be living? If so, what are the qualities of that neighborhood that attracted you? If not, what are the qualities you are looking for in a neighborhood?

JD: I am looking for neighborhood qualities similar to what I think most newcomers to a city want. A quiet, clean, safe, green, pedestrian-friendly community close to neighborhood services, and full of kind, caring neighbors.

Please join me in welcoming John to our community. I’ll keep you updated on opportunities to meet him as he prepares to “meet with a cross section of community and development leaders to talk about their needs and issues.”

City press release: City Names Development Director after Nationwide Search

Fresno Bee article: Fresno hires new development boss

Planetizen 2006 Interview: Oklahoma City Planning Director John M. Dugan