Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staffing Housing Element topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taft planning director Mark Staples to leave; staff outlines housing‑element progress and code timetable
Summary
Planning Director Mark Staples announced his departure after roughly 12 years with the City of Taft and briefed the council on near‑term planning items including the housing element, code updates and ADU project materials.
Mark Staples, the city’s planning director, announced at the June 2025 meeting that his last day with the City of Taft will be that Thursday, and he reviewed planning‑department accomplishments and ongoing projects before departing.
Staples said he began as a contract city planner about 12 years ago and later became full‑time. He reviewed recent work on the city’s Housing Element: the first draft covered September–December 2024 and drew state comments (California Department of Housing and Community Development, HCD) on Nov. 27, 2024; a second draft was submitted in March 2025 and had a 60‑day review; a third draft was provided to HCD by May 1, 2025. Staples told the council the housing element was close to completion and that a consultant will assist through the transition to finalize the element later in the summer.
Staples also outlined building‑code timing: Taft enforces the California Building Code and the California Residential Code and requires sprinklers in new single‑family homes; the city expects to update codes for the 2025 cycle and make changes effective January 1, 2026. He said staff would use contract GIS support to overlay state map layers (referencing the CAL FIRE map discussion earlier) for a parcel‑level review.
Council members and staff publicly thanked Staples for his service. City Manager Craig Jones and other department heads praised his procedural improvements and recordkeeping; the mayor and the city attorney also thanked Staples for his work with the planning commission and the city.
Ending: Staples said he will be available by phone after his move and urged staff and the council to complete the housing element and ADU projects that remain in process; staff expects to bring the final housing element to the planning commission and council later in the summer.
