New Redevelopment Chief Goes to Work

After a seven-month vacancy, Ventura got a new planning and redevelopment manager Tuesday.

Tom Figg, the former community development director for Port Hueneme, kicked off his new job with a marathon workday and a hectic schedule of back-to-back meetings. His first meeting started at 8:15 a.m.; his last one--a joint meeting between the City Council and the Planning Commission--started at 7 p.m.

“Everyone wants a piece of him,” said his secretary, Laurel Spawn, who fielded a barrage of phone calls for the newly arrived Figg. “He’s swamped. I haven’t even seen him yet.”

Figg replaces Mitch Oshinsky, who left Ventura in June for a job with the Northern California city of Brentwood. Figg will oversee planning and redevelopment for Ventura and will report to Everett Millais, director of community services.

The city recruited widely, but few applicants had the breadth of experience necessary for the job. “We wanted someone who had experience in the planning side, as well as on the redevelopment side,” Millais said.

With 21 years of dual experience, Figg fit the bill. Because Port Hueneme is a small community, Figg had ample experience doing both redevelopment planning and economic development.

“Ventura is a beautiful community with a wealth of resources,” Figg said Tuesday. “It has a lot on its plate and I hope to lend a hand.”

In his new position he will work on everything from implementing the downtown theater and parking structure projects, to updating the residential growth management process, to implementing changes at the Buenaventura Mall and the Ventura Auto Mall.

He will receive an annual salary of $85,600, and a $3,000 vehicle allowance, Millais said.