In
Napa, Ken led an advisory committee formed to update the City’s Housing
Element, managed review of several high profile development projects including
a new 181-room hotel in downtown Napa, managed updates to the City’s vacation
rental ordinance, second unit ordinance and historic preservation ordinance,
and coordinated efforts with local, state and federal officials to preserve the
historic downtown post office building that was slated for demolition by the
USPS due to damage caused by the 2014 South Napa Earthquake. Current issues
facing Napa that are shared by Windsor include affordable housing, vacation
rentals, addressing economic growth and expansion in the downtown, and
reviewing the future of civic center uses.
Ken
previously held planning positions in the cities of Calistoga and Santa Rosa,
as well as the County of Napa. While with the City of Santa Rosa, he completed
preparation of the Specific Plan for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART)
station in the downtown, co-led and completed a comprehensive update of the
City’s General Plan, and managed preparation of a fiscal impact study for
potential annexation of a large unincorporated area.
Ken holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Portland State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Planning from Sonoma State. He describes his leadership style as “collaborative, accessible and approachable, positive and strategic.”
Commenting
on his appointment, Ken notes, “I have been impressed with how the Town has
managed growth, developed community assets such as the Town Green, and
sustained and grown its economy over the years.
The opportunity to build upon these successes and help advance the
Town’s vision and goals for the future is very exciting to me.”
Town
Manager Linda Kelly stated, “The Town is very excited to bring Ken on board.
His extensive planning experience in the North Bay will be extremely valuable
as we continue to move through our General Plan update effort as well as the
many significant development projects underway and on the horizon, including
Vintage Oaks, Windsor Mill and the Russian River Brewing Company.”
