Top planners find other jobs after department cut

<p>Petaluma’s top two planning administrators have taken jobs with other jurisdictions after their positions were eliminated from next fiscal year’s budget.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Community Development Director Mike Moore and assistant director George White were eligible for an early retirement buyout offered by the city, but have taken other jobs instead.</p><p>Moore will become planning director for the city of Mill Valley and White will take a similar position with Calaveras County.</p><p>Moore has worked for Petaluma City Hall for nine years as community development director and for five years in the 1980s as a planner. White worked for the city for eight years.</p><p>Last fall, their department’s staff was cut from 23 to 12, and earlier this spring the city said it would eliminate more positions and contract out planning services in an effort to save money.</p><p>The department had been expected to pay for itself through building fees and per-mit revenue, but a slowdown in development made the cuts necessary, the city said.</p><p>— Argus-Courier</p>