City approves money for new planning director

Photo of Charles C. Graves III from the American Planning Association

City Council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the release of funds to pay part of the salary of new Department of Planning Director Charles C. Graves III.

The funds, which total $36,000, will be transferred from accounts of the Office of the City Manager and the Office of Budget and Evaluation.

Graves began his term in the newly-created department on September 4. His starting salary is $125,000 per year.

The Department of Planning had been disbanded in 2002 due to budget cuts. In its 2007/2008 Approved Biennial Budget, City Council set aside only $5,120 for the new position. That money was to be used only for the candidate search.