With the move of Tom Story to the office of Mayor Dick Murphy, several changes in senior staff have been made in both the Planning Department and Development Services Department. Gary Halbert has been named Chief Deputy Director in the new Planning Department. He began his new assignment on Feb. 26. In addition to being senior deputy to Planning Director Gail Goldberg, Halbert will also assume many of the duties formerly handled by Story, now a Senior Policy Advisor to Mayor Dick Murphy.
Story advises the mayor on land use, water and transportation issues.
Replacing Halbert is Kelly Broughton, Deputy Director of the Development Services Department's Project Management Division. Marcela Escobar Eck, the Planning Department's manager for the Naval Training Center Reuse Project. Halbert has been Deputy Director of the Land Development Review Division of the Development Services Department since 1995. Gary's expertise and experience will contribute greatly to the very important Strategic Framework effort, as well as other large scale projects such as MSCP and infrastructure. Broughton will take over Halbert's former post, Deputy Director for the Land Development Review Division effective March 1, 2001.