David Ward has replaced Jeff Lambert as the Interim Community Development Director
The City of Ventura has announced that David Ward will serve as the Interim Community Development Director effective immediately. Ward recently served as the City’s Planning Manager and has worked for the City of Ventura for approximately 10 years. He replaces Jeff Lambert who is now in Oxnard (see article).
David told the Breeze “In assuming my interim role, I will continue the department’s current work plan efforts on the Thomas Fire Recovery, developing land use policy and ordinance projects such as the firearm ordinance and updated inclusionary housing ordinance, and expanded code enforcement efforts, as well as my oversight of the busy building permit office and planning permits processing through our 4 City Board/Committees. As Interim Director I am supported significantly by Yolanda Bundy, Chief Building Official and Jonathan Wood, Code Enforcement Manager, and the entire department staff as we work to accomplish our community rebuild and other endeavors for 2019.”
David Ward has been a planner at local public agencies throughout the California Coastal Region for more than 23 years, working for the Counties of Monterey and Santa Barbara, as well as the Cites of Morro Bay, Rancho Palos Verdes and Ventura. Ward holds a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Northridge and is a member of the American Planning Institute of Certified Planners.
From rural issues and resource protection to form-based codes, redevelopment and community plans, David has actively engaged with community stakeholders, project applicants and decision-makers to implement a local vision and create great places in our neighborhoods and community.
The Community Development Department has four divisions run by the Building & Safety, Planning, Code Enforcement, and Economic Development, with a staff of more than 50 employees run by the Community Development Director.
