Downey Redevelopment Director Resigns

Downey Community Development Director Jim Cutts has resigned to accept a similar job with the northeast Orange County city of Brea. Cutts, 44, said he was lured by Brea’s active redevelopment program, which now includes rebuilding the city’s old downtown, and the offer of a higher salary.

Cutts was hired in 1983 to oversee Downey’s redevelopment, building, planning and housing departments. The redevelopment projects he supervised include the city’s showcase Embassy Suites hotel on Firestone Boulevard. Downey paid Cutts $65,000 a year.

Cutts assumed his new job last week as director of development services for Brea. He will head that city’s redevelopment, engineering, building, planning and safety departments. Brea will pay Cutts $78,000 a year, a city spokeswoman said.