WEST LINN – Senior Planner Chris Kerr has been appointed West Linn’s first Economic Development Director. This appointment is made in direct response to the West Linn City Council’s unanimously adopted goals for 2012, which includes the specific dedication of staff to manage a sustainable economic development strategy for the City that reflects the Highway 43/Willamette Falls Drive visioning process. The Economic Development Director position is part of the management team, and reports to the City Manager.
“I am pleased that Chris will be joining the management team in this important role,” said City Manager Chris Jordan. “Chris was integral in the first phase of the Highway 43/Willamette Falls Drive visioning process, and he brings his vast planning and development experience to the position,” said Jordan.
Mr. Kerr will formally transition into the Economic Development Director role on June 1, 2012. To accommodate this position within the City’s budget constraints, there are no plans to fill his Senior Planner position for the foreseeable future. He will receive a pay increase of approximately 10 percent for assuming a director-level position. There is a net-zero financial impact because a vacated Project Coordinator position will not be filled to accommodate the creation of the Economic Development Director position.
Mr. Kerr joined the City of West Linn in 2007. During his employment with the City, he has served as the interim Planning Director and interim Assistant City Manager. He will bring more than 12 years of diverse private and public sector experience to the position which has included work as a planning project manager on numerous commercial, mixed use, and redevelopment projects.
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