LTC 302-2009 Acting Planning Directorr_ ~,
I"~ r", i Y' I '>~ i
m MIAMI BEACH ~'~9"c"-' F,I2:14
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # LETTER TO COMMISSION
302-2009
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~~~
DATE: November 2, 2009 ' ~
SUBJECT: Acting Planning Director
The purpose of this LTC is to advise you that I have appointed Planning and Zoning Manager
Richard Lorber as Acting Planning Director. As you know, former Planning Director, Jorge G.
Gomez, AICP was promoted to Assistant City Manager effective October 19, 2009.
Richard has been an urban planner for over sixteen years, and started working with the City of
Miami Beach in 1998. He has gained experience through increasingly responsible positions within
the Planning Department, and for almost seven years now, he has been serving as the Planning and
Zoning Manager for the City.
Outside of his experience in the City of Miami Beach, from 2000 to 2003, Richard held the position
of Planning Director for the City of South Miami. Richard is well qualified to hold the position of
Acting Director, holding Masters Degrees in Urban Planning and Economics, and certification from
the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) as well as from the U.S. Green Building Council
as a LEED Accredited Professional.
As I have mentioned to you, I will be conducting a national recruitment to select a permanent
Director for the Planning Department. I will inform you of the progress on this effort as appropriate.
Please join me in congratulating Richard, and thanking him for taking on this assignment.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me
JMGIDM
Attachment
Electronic Copy: Management Team
F:IcmgrsSALLILTG09Wcting Planning Director Oct 2009.doc
Richard G. Lorber, AICP, LEED AP
Experience
June 2003 - present i Planning and Zoning Manager
City of Miami Beach Planning Department
Vlanagrs and coordinalrs all aspects of thr Plannink and %aming Section; including inu•n•ietavtg and luting nrw
perxrnnrl, budKet Preparation, information technology altd other administratiec I'rmctions. Principal stalF to the
Planning Board and Board ol'.Adjustmrnt, wlihx legislation, Preparrs reports utd presentations ur Cih' Commission
rcgardinG Land Dc.'rlopmcnt Rrgtdations and thr Cotnprrhrrssivc flan. Rcprrsents the Cin~ Administration acrd
1'lamtittg I )rpattntcnl. at Public hearings and meetings. Chair of the Cup's C.Lti, ll.rr Group.
December 2000 -June 2003 i Planning Director
City of South Miami Planning Department
Rcslwnsiblc for platming, organizing; connluwting mana~ittg and implemrntinG the Planning mtd uming aQlvihes of
the CiU. Suprrvrd Planning dcparunent still', coordinated dcparuuental and consuhaln work Products, pro+idrd Rtr
City' contPliana~ with Florida Stahrrs concerning rcduired planning funatiuru, and 1>rotided stall sen'ice5 m the
1'lantting Board, Fnyiromncntal Re.icw & Historic I'rescrcalion Board iERPII), and other boards and committees.
June 1998 -December 2000 i Principal Planner /Senior Planner
City of Miami Beach Planning Department
Principal swfl'to Planning Board, prrltarcd reports and presentxtiutts to the Board. \l'rote amenthucnts u, the %oning
Ordinanc~r dealing +ri[h drvrlopmrnt and land cue re~mlations, inchiding major cia'widc dowttzoning initiative.
Coordinxtrd the Ci(r3 Comprchensi vc Phut Amrndtncnt process.
July 1995 -June 1998 i Associate Planner
Broward County Planning Council
Rcspcnuiblc lirr transportation and land use planting ac pals nl a arounhw•ide axnprehcnsivr Planning agency.
July 1993 -July 1995 i Planning Analyst
Broward County Dept. Of Strategic Planning And Growth Management
Transportation Planning Division
Planning efforts lontscd on transporation plmtning and mass transit coordination.
Education
Florida Atlantic University i Master of Urban and Regional Planning
199;
Florida International University i Master of Arts, Economics
1985
New England College i Bachelor of Arts, Economics
1983 Deans List 1980, 19S2
Professional /Service
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
• blcmhcr :' Ccttilicd Planner
U.S. Green Building Council
• LEED At~:rcditcd Professional
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Sational Incident D~lana>iemcnt Systemx (NL~1S)
• Command and General titalf Training h- 1(M7 through Iti-81N1
• IS-253 Coordinating Em~irutmtental and Hisu>ric Preservation ContPliancr
Leadership Miami
c:la,<er 1999-zoal
Florida Atlantic University
• adjunct Prnlcsor, School a{Urban and Public 90airs 20(N)-'2002
American Planning Association, Florida Chapter
• Chairman, Eseoulice Conmllitcc, Gold Coast Sectinn 20011-2002
City of Hollywood
• Citizens Truv<Portatimt Conunittcc• 1996 1999
National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Inductai i\larch 199i