Christina Ratcliffe to serve as new head of community development

City Manager Brad Kilger announced Monday that Christina Ratcliffe will be Benicia’s new community development director starting March 30.

It’s been nearly two years since Kilger, citing the city’s financial troubles, laid off Charlie Knox, who had been a Benicia employee for seven years. At the time, Kilger announced the job of community development director had been eliminated.

“The city is committed to making structural changes to help address the financial issues,” Kilger said at the time of Knox’s departure. “In that regard, the Community Development director, which is an at-will position, was laid off. With the elimination of this position, the department staff will report directly to me.”

However, last year Dan Marks, who had retired as planning director of Berkeley and who had a similar position in Vallejo, was hired as Benicia’s interim community development director until a permanent replacement could be found.

Kilger said Monday that Ratcliffe is a graduate of San Francisco State University who has a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and who did her master’s work at the University California-Berkeley Department of City and Regional Planning.

She has spent more than 18 years in the planning field in both public and private sectors and has been employed by Orinda, Alameda, Berkeley and Saratoga.

She also has been a member of the management team that runs the Oakland and Phoenix offices of PMC, a consulting firm with public sector and nonprofit clients.

Ratcliffe, a member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners, has managed creation and production of environmental impact reports, general and specific plans and zoning ordinance updates, Kilger said.

He said Ratcliffe told him her work in both public and private sectors have given her the chance to apply her planning skills and knowledge in multiple assignments.

“She looks forward to the opportunity to work with the City Council, staff and the community to assist in Benicia in meeting the city’s goals,” Kilger said.

“The city is very fortunate to get someone with Ms. Ratcliffe’s extensive background and breadth of experience. We look forward to having Christina on board.”