Elk Grove City Manager Announces New Development Services Management Team

Public Works Director, Planning Director and Building Official named


Press release from City of Elk Grove

ELK GROVE, CA – Elk Grove City Manager Laura S. Gill today announced the selection of the new Development Services management team. New hires include Public Works Director/City Engineer Richard Shepard, Planning Director Don Hazen and Building Official Richard Renfro.

Shepard will oversee the operations of the Public Works Department, including engineering operations, and public works maintenance, repair, and construction projects. Hazen will manage the operations of the Planning Department, including current and future development initiatives, and serve as a technical advisor to the Elk Grove Planning Commission. Renfro will manage the activities and operations of the Building Department, supervise building code administration and enforcement, and administer the review of plans for compliance with applicable codes and regulations.

“The new Development Services management team brings to the table an insurmountable depth of knowledge, leadership and professional experience,” said City Manager Laura S. Gill. “We are extremely fortunate to have such seasoned public servants shaping our community and taking our maturing city to the next level.”

Shepard has nearly 30 years of transportation experience, and most recently served as the Director of Transportation for El Dorado County. During his tenure, he was responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the 1,100 miles of county highways, and managed an annual budget of $140 million and staff of 220 employees. Shepard dedicated more than 25 years of his career to the California Department of Transportation as a Bridge Engineer. Shepard has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Engineering.

Hazen has more than 25 years of diverse planning experience in various cities throughout California, including the cities of Santa Cruz, Temecula, Ontario and most recently, Vallejo. In Vallejo, Hazen served as the Planning Manager and was responsible for managing the Planning Department, improving the development review process, enhancing customer service, and increasing public participation in the planning process. Hazen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from California State University, Chico.

Renfro has nearly 30 years of professional experience and has served as the contract Building Official for the City of Elk Grove since July 2002. Prior to his experience in Elk Grove, Renfro worked for more than six years as the City of Red Bluff’s Building Official. Renfro spent the majority of his career as a California State Licensed General Building Contractor. Renfro has served as a Commissioner on the California Building Officials Training Institute (CTI) for more than seven years, and is a member of the California Building Officials Board of Directors. Renfro has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University Chico and a Degree in Building Inspection Technology from Butte Community College.

“A top priority of the Elk Grove City Council is streamlining the development services process to bolster economic development, and make Elk Grove City Hall a welcoming place to do business,” said Mayor Pat Hume. “I am confident the new directors will build a solid foundation for the future planning and shaping of our city. We can look forward to continued progress over the coming years.”

Hazen and Renfro will begin on January 5, 2009, and Shepard will start on January 20, 2009.

For more information about the City of Elk Grove, visit www.elkgrovecity.org or call 916-683-7111.