Long-time civic servants set to retire

Two long-time employees in Laguna Beach’s Community Development Department will retire later this year, the city announced Monday.

Community Development Director John Montgomery, who has served Laguna Beach for 22 years, and zoning administrator Liane Schuller, who has worked in the department for 24 years, will retire at the end of June and March, respectively, according to a news release.

Montgomery has been in his position since August 2003, having been hired as the department’s assistant director in September 1991, the release said.

Before joining Laguna Beach, he worked as a planner for the city of San Bernardino and in similar positions in Montana and Colorado. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Schuller has served as zoning administrator since March 2004 and previously worked for Newport Beach and Santa Ana after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona.

“Liane and I have great respect for all who serve the city, the great work that everyone does, and the differences we have made for the community,” Montgomery said in the release. “We will miss our ‘work family’ but know that lasting friendships will be a future part of our lives.”

Schuller and Montgomery provided valuable service to the city, City Manager John Pietig said in the release.

“The city will truly miss the leadership John and Liane have provided to guide a very technical and complex department,” Pietig said. “They are consummate professionals who have worked hard to serve the community through a changing development process over the last two decades.”

Pietig is initiating the selection process to replace Schuller and Montgomery.