New Faces in Foster City Government

The City of Foster City gained two new employees this week, City Manager Jim Hardy announced.

Leslie Loomis will be the City's new Human Resources Director, and Curtis Banks will be coming on board as the new Community Development Director.

Loomis is expected to begin hew new position on Sept. 19. Her services will be provided through a contract with the Regional Government Services Authority.

Hardy said, Loomis comes to Foster City with a strong background in human resources, having worked in the field since 1984 as a consultant and for various local city governments, including Redwood City, San Carlos and Palo Alto.  Most recently she served as the Human Resources Director in the City of San Rafael.  She has a bachelor of science degree in human development and a master’s degree in public administration.

“Leslie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position,” said Hardy.  “We are fortunate to be able to call on her expertise to fill this important role in our organization.” 

Loomis will be filling the position that became vacant on July 29 when Rebecca Burnside left the position to become the Human Resources Director for the City of Redwood City.

The Human Resources Department is responsible for administering employee benefits, classification and compensation, labor and employee relations, recruitment and selection, organizational development and training, and workers' compensation administration for the City and its employees.

Following Community Development Director Richard Marks’ announced retirement after 28 years with Foster City, Hardy announced the appointment of Curtis Banks as Foster City’s new Community Development Director effective Jan. 1.

Through its Planning/Code Enforcement and Building divisions, the Community Development Department guides the physical development and redevelopment of Foster City while protecting and maintaining the quality of its physical environment.

Currently serving as Foster City’s Planning Manager, Banks has been employed by Foster City since 2009.  During that time he has overseen the daily operation of the Planning/Code Enforcement division, working closely with City staff, the Planning Commission, residents, businesses and community groups to ensure that projects meet the City’s standards and align with the General Plan.

“I am excited to be a part of shaping Foster City’s future and look forward to maintaining the excellent, ‘solutions-oriented’ reputation of the Community Development Department,” said Banks.

Banks came to Foster City with a strong planning background, having worked as a planner since 1990 in Los Gatos, Los Altos, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, Menlo Park and Campbell.  He has a bachelor of arts degree in public administration and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning.

Banks, his wife and his two sons live in Mountain View, where he is involved in local sports programs as a coach of his sons’ basketball teams and as a coach and board member for Los Altos-Mountain View Pony Baseball.