Katrina Rice Schmidt Resigns As City Planner
By Logan Hall
Ojai’s city planner Katrina Rice Schmidt has resigned from her position with the city. According to city manager Rob Clark, Schmidt gave her two weeks notice for personal reasons yesterday morning.
Clark says that her resignation was unexpected and he is now tasked with finding a suitable replacement for the position of city planner. “It caught me by surprise,” he said. “I’m going to find someone qualified that can perform her duties on an interim basis. That will give me and the City Council time to figure out what we are looking for in a permanent replacement.”
Clark said that he values Schmidt’s contributions over her nine years with the city of Ojai. “Katrina was doing a really, really good job,” he said. “I think the things she has done have really done a lot to preserve the beauty of this community.”
What are Steve’s credentials?
Katrina,
Thank you for clarifying and thank you for your public service.
Thank you for your great service Katrina and best of luck to you. It will be hard to find someone who measures up to your expertise. You’ll be missed!
Hi this is Katrina:
Thanks for the kind words. For the most part I have enjoyed my time as the City of Ojai’s City Planner. Ojai is a special place and should be preserved as such.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine and I have a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State University. I have over 24 years of experience in planning, permits, and urban design.
Talk to Steve McClary, the Assistant to the City Manager, to see what qualifications are necessary for the future hire.
Thank you,
Katrina
I’m not interested in the job.
Ms. Schmidt’s qualifications are relevant since I’d like to know how she qualified for the position and if/how the qualifications have changed since she was hired. She was a public employee, so the question is entirely appropriate.
Good point Old Ojai, let’s hope it’s not forever…..
If there is one thing we all need to know, is anyone in particular poised to take Katrina’s position? There is some power there that someone in her shoes would have and there is no way that I would care to have someone stepping in who wants the position just so they can wield it to suit their own ends not for the greater benefit of Ojai but just so they can tweak things to their own liking. I would totally scrutinize 100%, the background and history of anyone applying for that job. I would also like to know if anyone in particular put pressure on her to leave and if they did what was the reason for it.
Pine, I kind of agree with you. On the other hand, if the memorial is temporary it is one way people cope with the pain and to me that is more important than looks. Someone has gone to some lengths to build a beautiful cross in memory of Sonia. It has a more permanent feel about it. Don’t know if someone will eventually take it down but I think in time they should. Sorry thats just how I feel… being the entrance to the City it’s just too much of a sad reminder to keep up as a permanent thing.
I would have worded it differently but the question is the same. By asking what are her qualifications , what is her education and background, a person seeks to know if they posess what it takes to fill that position by seeing if they measure up to Katrina’s qualifications.
But just didn’t ask, “what are the qualifications needed to fill the vacancy?” That would have been a reasonable question, I agree.
No, he asked, “What is Ms. Schmidt’s educational background and experience?”
How is that a reasonable question?
Love Ojai just the way it is, small and beautiful, so really what is a city planner for. If they need to figure out where to plant a tree or just say NO! to big buisness call me. Is allowing memorials on the side of the road city planning? It’s to bad people die on the roads, but they look terrible especially at the entrance of our beauriful town….
I don’t usually jump to ‘just the facts’ defense but I was wondering the same thing, not out of noseyness but , well, theres a vacancy, what are the qualifications needed to fill the vacancy? Reasonable question I think.
just,
She’s retired, so your question is moot and inappropriate. If you want the job the question should be, what is your educational background and experience?
Just out of curiosity, what are the qualifications for a city planner? What is Ms. Schmidt’s educational background and experience?
City of Ojai has lost a true asset. Good luck on all future endeavors, Katrina!
Ms. Schmidt may have some specific reasons, but she is now established as a planner in the Ojai Valley. obtained properties to sell for profit and is frankly, probably, tired of dealing with some of the dramatics within the government. Time to move on. Thanks for your dedication.