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Development Services Director Shane Hope will retire July 1 after working for the City of Edmonds since 2014.

"I've loved working for Edmonds," she said. "It's a wonderful city, with great people who come together for the good of the community, and there's such a variety of businesses, parks, and activities."

In the interim, Planning Manager Rob Chave will step in to fill the role until a permanent director is hired.

Chave has been employed with the City of Edmonds for over 20 years. He works regularly with several of the City's citizen boards, including the Planning Board, Architectural Design Board, and Historic Preservation Board.

Said Hope: "My goal has been to provide good service to our community, whether it's providing information on environmental needs, making sure people can get timely permits, or anything else.

"My staff is very committed to their work and professionalism, and I will miss them. Also, working with the mayor and council has led to many good outcomes. One example is taking steps to reduce our impact on climate change.

"I've also been able to represent the City in various regional organizations, which is useful, since cities and counties share many of the same issues and can collaborate on solutions."

The recruitment process is underway to fill the Development Services Director position, and the City notes the process can take several months. Ultimately, Mayor Mike Nelson will appoint a new director, subject to City Council confirmation, at a salary range of $125,008 to $167,524.

The Development Services Department includes both a planning division and a building division, and works on a range of issues, such as building safety, environmental protection, walkability, code compliance, and land use.

"When I retire from my job, I will still be busy with life – just in other forms," said Hope. "For example, I will get to travel more, as well as visit with family and friends and take care of those pesky home projects that keep piling up."

Hope said she expects to keep in touch about what is happening in Edmonds.

"When you put your heart and long hours of work into a place, you do not forget it. But I also know many other people will continue doing good work in Edmonds and keeping their eyes on the future."