Mayor Buddy Dyer and multiple city commissioners recognized Elizabeth Dang, the city’s planning division manager, at the Sept. 22 Orlando City Council meeting and said she is retiring after more than 22 years of service.

Mayor Dyer praised Dang’s leadership, saying she “rose quickly through the ranks” and drove efforts to streamline regulatory processes, digitize planning workflows and consolidate review boards into a single development review committee. “She prioritized her team's growth and well-being, creating a culture… of collaboration and inclusion,” the mayor said.

Several commissioners echoed those remarks. Commissioner Jerry Bell said he had Elizabeth “on speed dial” because she always answered and thanked her for balancing growth while promoting good design; Commissioner Robert Stewart called Dang the “calm in the storm” and thanked her for her thorough planning approach. Commissioner Burns also thanked her for always answering calls and supporting council work.

Why it matters: Dang led planning division initiatives the mayor and commissioners described as transformational, including administrative changes intended to reduce costs and improve efficiency in the city’s development review processes. Councilors said her departure will be felt by staff and elected officials who relied on her institutional knowledge.

What was not presented: The meeting record includes recognition and gratitude but does not include personnel documents, an effective retirement date, or details of any succession plan; those items were not discussed in the transcript excerpt for the Sept. 22 meeting.

The council’s public praise closed with well-wishes for Dang’s next chapter and multiple commissioners thanking her for long-term service.