Mountlake Terrace reassigns economic development to city manager, renames department

Jeff Knighton, Mountlake Terrace city manager, told the Planning Commission on March 9 that the city is reorganizing its development functions so economic development reports directly to the city manager while regulatory and planning work remains in a renamed Community Development department.

Knighton said the change responds to a long‑standing tension between staff who promote new business and staff who regulate development. "We wanted to change that to the department to community development and then have Ryan ... report directly to the city manager's office," Knighton said, adding the goal is to give each function the importance it deserves.

The move elevates Ryan Dawson, the city's economic development manager, who will continue to sit near community development staff to maintain daily collaboration while reporting to Knighton. Dawson told commissioners the economic development team will bring periodic updates to the Planning Commission and work closely with community development on regulations and plan updates.

Knighton also said the city had previously devoted a small fraction of an FTE to community development and that the reorganization aims to strengthen capacity for planning and placemaking work. "The economic development function has been a priority for the city council for a long time," he said.

Commissioners asked for clarity on the division of responsibilities; Knighton said community development will continue to write and manage regulations and comprehensive‑plan work, while economic development will focus on business attraction, marketing, and implementation activities that support the city's vision.

Staff also told the commission the community development director search is underway and that senior planner Sarah Pizzo would provide the director's report later in the meeting. No formal action or vote was taken by the commission at the meeting.