Lopez suggests Cohen to replace outgoing City Planner Don Craig
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
Although the Oct. 13 resignation of City Planner Don Craig came as a shock to several city commissioners, the name of at least one possible replacement candidate is already circulating.
Commissioner Clayton Lopez is asking that Thaddeus Cohen, formerly Director of Pensacola’s Community Development Department and Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs under Gov. Jeb Bush, be considered. Lopez said that Cohen has worked with Key West officials on rewriting the city’s comprehensive plan and helped commissioners develop and maintain the city’s “areas of critical concern.”
“I’m certainly going to ask that at least we reach out to him,” Lopez said about Cohen. “I can think of nobody else who would be more helpful on planning issues.”
Cohen was first runner up in 2012 when the city replaced retiring City Manager Jim Scholl. Bob Vitas was eventually hired although this past June he left the position one year before his contract expired by mutual consent with the city commission. Commissioners then rehired Scholl as interim city manager.
Commissioner Billy Wardlow said Cohen would be an “interesting choice” and that he has urban planning experience. Cohen is also past chairman of the Commission on Affordable Housing for Palm Beach County.
“That might be good,” Wardlow said about Cohen as a candidate to replace Craig.
Commissioner Tony Yaniz has long pushed for hiring local residents when a City Hall position opens up. However, he said, if that is not possible, he wants someone well-versed in either Monroe County or Florida state government. When asked whether he would support Cohen, Yaniz gave him his endorsement, saying Cohen was familiar with Key West issues and has a strong background in municipal planning.
“Thaddeus would be great as a city planner. That would be a guy we could bring on board. I could get behind this guy,” Yaniz said.
Craig sent his letter of resignation to Scholl and Assistant City Manager Sarah Hannah-Spurlock on Monday, Oct. 13. In it, he said he was submitting his resignation “with great sadness.”
“I must, however, recognize my responsibilities to my family and my health. These, at this time, have led me to this decision,” Craig said in his letter. His last day will be Nov. 21.
Craig and his wife, Susan, came to Key West 27 years ago. She now splits her time between Key West and their home in Breckenridge, Colo., where Craig said he will move on Dec. 1. He reportedly said he is not retiring and will look for consulting work going forward.
Craig, 66, was a private planner before being hired as a planning consultant to Key West in 2010. He was promoted into the full-time position one year later. During his four years as city planner, he racked up a list of accomplishments that were praised by city commissioners, including jumpstarting the redevelopment of the Truman Waterfront.
“He’s done a fantastic job in such a short amount of time,” Wardlow said. “He redid our comprehensive plan and brought ordinances up to date on building and planning.”
“His biggest projects were in District 6,” said Lopez, who represents that district. “We have a new fire station, the renovation of Nelson English and Willie Ward parks. We’re starting on the [Frederick] Douglass Gym. We have residential parking on Fourth Street. These are all things where we are where we are because of Don’s work.”
Commissioner Jimmy Weekley echoed Craig’s praises but said the city’s planner is leaving at a particularly difficult time. Craig had just presented an in-depth report outlining the critical lack of affordable housing in Key West and suggesting three possible solutions.
Craig has also been heavily involved in the redevelopment of the Peary Court housing complex. And he has been instrumental in writing new proposed ordinances to regulate food trucks, for which he is drawing considerable protest from truck owners.
“He’s got us moving in the right direction on a lot of things,” Weekley said. “Hopefully before he leaves we can get started on some of his ideas.
As for Thaddeus Cohen, Weekley said Cohen has a solid knowledge of the planning and development issues in Key West. He would be a good candidate if interested, Weekley said. But there might be a problem.
“I don’t know if the salary would be in the range of what he would want to relocate,” Weekley said.
Craig currently makes an annual salary of $132,612.
City Manager Scholl has recently filled several management positions by promoting from within existing staff ranks. But according to Weekley, that may not be an option for the planner’s job.
“I don’t believe there is anybody in the city that’s qualified. I spoke to Jim [Scholl] yesterday and he didn’t think there was anyone qualified to take over,” he said.
Craig praised his staff in his resignation letter, saying each person would continue to grow professionally and identify opportunities for city betterment.
“My decision has not been easily reached because in the end, no matter how much the Planning Department has achieved during my tenure, there remains much to be accomplished, left undone, and new challenges to embrace. In order to respond to these opportunities the City needs a younger, more energetic and capable person, I have come to realize,” Craig said in his letter.
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