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Planning director Owens resigns

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2009

DADE CITY - City Attorney Karla Owens is resigning her position as the city's planning director and will remain with the city as a part-time city attorney.

The resignation will be effective after Dec. 31. In a letter dated Oct. 30, Owens said she would step down from her position overseeing code enforcement, planning and zoning, to spend more time with her ailing parents.

When questioned by the Tribune several weeks ago, she denied any plans to step down as planning director. "At that point, I still hadn't decided," she explained.

Her role as attorney and planning director raised some controversy earlier this year, when City Commissioner Steve Van Gorden suggested the two positions should be separated.

Van Gorden, who will be leaving the commission after Tuesday's meeting, had accused Owens of having conflicts of interest.

Owens joined the city in 2003 and earned $80,000 a year, making her the highest paid city employee. She will earn $25,000 a year as a part-time attorney. She also will forfeit a generous benefit package that included a car allowance and more than six weeks each year of paid sick leave and vacation time.

City Manager Billy Poe said the city will advertise for a new community development director. The code enforcement and building departments will report to the city manager.

"We'll have to see what's best for the city," Poe said. "We can't really afford to hire a code enforcement director now."

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 259-8109.

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