Title
Recognizing Allen P. Lovejoy on his retirement from the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Allen Lovejoy started with the City of Saint Paul on August 21, 1978 as a City Planner II, following his graduation from the University of Southern California and initial planning jobs in Paramount and Malibu, California, beginning an illustrious 35 year career with the City in the Departments of Planning & Economic Development and Public Works; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Allen's work has focused on planning for public infrastructure investments, which he began by leading groundbreaking work with a national consortium of cities to develop an improved approach to the City's capital improvement planning and budgeting process; and
WHEREAS, Allen has worked on the last four of the City's 10-year Comprehensive Plan updates, including leading the 1980s update and working on transportation, parking, and sewers elements of the other plans through the current plan adopted in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Allen left his mark on downtown development, serving as the lead downtown planner in the 1980s, and working on site preparation coordination for both the Science Museum and Xcel Energy Center; and
WHEREAS, major transportation planning projects have been Allen's most significant work, led by the Phalen Corridor Initiative, a transformative East-Side project that led not only to the development of Phalen Boulevard, but also significant related business and residential redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, Allen probably has the distinction of having worked longer on the Central Corridor LRT project than probably any other City staff person, beginning with the first alternatives analysis in the 1980s, and including the Draft, Supplemental, and Final Environmental Impact Statements, Preliminary Engineering, Municipal Consent, Final Design, and Construction, working with an interdepartmental City staff team; and
WHEREAS, Allen forged strong relationships with regional agency partners, serving as a liaison in various capacities to the Metropolitan Council for his entire career, including stints as a member and chair of the Transportation Advisory Board's Technical Advisory Committee (TAB-TAC); and
WHEREAS, Allen consistently contemplated strategic concerns and sought solutions with regard to larger bureaucratic, organizational and policy issues;
WHEREAS, younger planners have appreciated his interest in and willingness to be a mentor, passing along his deep knowledge about issues, processes, and institutions; and
WHEREAS, Allen's ability to scan media sources and forward relevant information about city building and community development, including examples of national and international best practices (often on weekends and early in the morning!) informed and enriched the work of his colleagues; and
WHEREAS, what many will remember most fondly are the times Allen always took to check in with his colleagues, asking how they were doing, and supporting them with suggestions, encouragement, or a sympathetic ear, depending upon what the moment called for; and
WHEREAS, Allen will leave his employment with the City of Saint Paul on March 31, 2014, and the loss of his institutional knowledge, vast experience, and connections to other departments and agencies will be deeply felt by his colleagues in PED, Public Works, and throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, Allen is planning a wonderful start to his retirement with his wife Heather, traveling and living in several cities throughout Europe;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council thanks Allen for his many contributions to the improvement of the city and his service to the citizens of Saint Paul, and wishes him and his wife Heather a long, happy and healthy retirement.