Planning Director of Santa Monica Quits, Cites Stress

Santa Monica Planning Director Paul Silvern has resigned just two weeks before he was scheduled for a one-year performance evaluation, saying the city manager had expressed reservations recently about his ability.

Silvern’s resignation is effective Aug. 16. The 33-year-old planner said he is considering several job options and will continue as a consultant to the city on a number of upcoming planning issues.

“The last year has been very stressful for me,” Silvern said. “I have not always been able to work on the kinds of projects that have tapped my talents. . . . The decision came after a lot of soul-searching on my part.”

City Manager John Jalili refused to comment on whether Silvern would have survived his job evaluation but said the city planner “has worked very hard under extremely difficult conditions.” Jalili noted that the resignation comes as the city is making planning decisions that will affect policy for years.

‘Most Critical Period’

“This is the most critical period in our city’s planning history,” Jalili said. “Land-use policies are going to have to be put in ordinance form where they will become law. Right now they are essentially policies.”

Silvern recently was involved in two controversial planning issues: the decision to ask Kramer Motors to redesign its proposed auto dealership on Santa Monica Boulevard and the decision to prohibit parking lots on six parcels off Wilshire Boulevard that adjoin residences. Before being named planning director, Silvern was associated with community groups that are generally supportive of the renters’ rights faction. He also was on the board of directors of the Ocean Park Community Organization and worked for the Skid Row Development Corp. in downtown Los Angeles.

Rumors of Silvern’s impending departure have circulated for more than two months. His appointment came just as the city leadership shifted from Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, a liberal tenant activist group, to the All Santa Monica Coalition, a moderate group with strong homeowner and business support.

Officials associated with the renter faction lamented Silvern’s departure, and some charged that he was forced from the job by the All Santa Monica Coalition.

‘A Real Loss’

Councilman Dennis Zane called Silvern’s departure “a real loss.” He said Silvern was the best planner he has worked with, explaining that Silvern had “provided the most thorough and careful analysis of issues of anybody I’ve worked with.”

Planning Commissioner Derek Shearer also complimented Silvern. “I think that it was basically a political firing and that (Silvern) was pushed out by the city manager and the city manager was acting under pressure from (Mayor) Chris Reed,” Shearer said. “What Chris Reed wants to do is put in a planning director who is more pro-development, and the city manager has unfortunately gone along with it. Any other reason they give is a smoke screen for their true motives.”

Councilman James P. Conn said “various council members have certainly taken strong swipes at Paul Silvern from time to time and have expressed their political perspective on the job he is supposed to do. Chris Reed has certainly been articulate about her criticism of Paul, the Planning Commission, the planning staff. You name it in the Planning Department, Chris has criticized it.”

Another city official, who asked not to be named, said Silvern was “caught in the political cross fire.” The official added that Silvern was “identified with (renters’) planning issues. Anybody in that position . . . is going to be a target for the coalition.”

Silvern said the change in the council majority may have had something to do with his departure. “The planning issues are among the most controversial issues the city deals with on a regular basis,” he said. “As the senior staff person responsible for much of the decision-making, I am in the middle of it.”

Jalili, however, denied that he had been under political pressure from City Council members to fire Silvern, saying that “neither faction of the council . . . has made any attempt to interfere or intervene with any administrative matters.”

Mayor Reed credited Silvern with helping to create the city’s first land-use plan in 25 years but refused to comment on his overall performance, referring all inquiries to Jalili.

Councilman David Epstein, an ally of Reed, said he does not believe the mayor placed pressure on Jalili or that the city manager would respond to pressure. “It’s a controversial job and you can’t please everybody all the time,” Epstein said of Silvern. “Sometimes I was happier than otherwise. That would be true no matter who was planning director.”

In 1983 Silvern joined the city as manager of the Program and Policy Development Division. As director he was involved in development of the land-use plan, reorganization of the Santa Monica Airport and several other major development projects. He replaced Planning Director James Lunsford, who retired in February, 1984.