Theresa O’Donnell, the deputy director of the department, has been appointed by the city council to serve as the director of planning and general manager on an interim basis. She will take over this responsibility effective immediately and work with Gil over the coming days for the transition.
Kelley, who is from the United States, reportedly travelled to Oregon in late November 2020 to be with family, and it was previously stated that he had plans to return to Vancouver in early January 2021. It is not immediately clear if he has since returned to Oregon.
City staff were asked in the New Year not to travel, and that policy applied to all staff.
City of Vancouver s chief planner leaving job
Kelley, who was appointed to the job in 2016, had served as the director of planning for Portland, Ore., and San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif., before coming to Vancouver.
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Gil Kelley, who took over the job in 2016, becomes the 2nd senior manager to leave in 3 months
Posted: Mar 15, 2021 3:14 PM PT | Last Updated: March 16
Vancouver’s chief city planner Gil Kelley is leaving his job, the city announced on March 15, 2021. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
He s leaving four-and-a-half years after being hired as general manager of planning, urban design and sustainability by Charlie Smith on March 15th, 2021 at 5:03 PM 1 of 1 2 of 1
A second high-ranking member of the City of Vancouver s management team is stepping down.
The general manager of planning, urban design and sustainability, Gil Kelley, has resigned after four-and-a-half years in this position.
His role as chief planner is being filled by the deputy planning director, Theresa O Donnell.
Kelley was director of city planning in San Francisco when he was hired by the City of Vancouver. For a decade up until 2009, Kelley was Portland s director of planning.
Vancouver s chief planner Gil Kelley to depart amid debate over slow pace of progress theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.