City Of Martinez To Welcome New Community, Economic Development Director

MARTINEZ, CA – The city of Martinez has hired a new community and economic development director. Christina Ratcliffe was the top candidate from a pool of 32 applicants who applied for the position, according to a May 18 announcement from Martinez City Manager Brad Kilger. Ratcliffe, who has over 20 years of community and economic development experience in both the public and private sectors, will start with the city on July 5, Kilger said.

Ratcliffe has worked for several Bay Area cities including Benicia, Orinda, Alameda and Berkeley. In the private sector, she was a senior manager for PMC, a planning, environmental and municipal services consulting firm that specializes in land development and environmental services and the preparation of customized development projects for public and private sector clients. She has extensive experience managing the preparation of general and specific plans and overseeing the adoption and implementation of complex mixed-use development projects.

Ratcliffe earned a bachelor's degree in urban studies in San Francisco State University and a master's degree
at University of California, Berkeley’s Department of City and Regional Planning. She is a member of the California Association for Local Economic Development and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

"The City is very fortunate to get someone with Ms. Ratcliffe’s background," Kilger said. Her experience in working with similar sized communities, particularly in the field of downtown revitalization, will be an asset to Martinez as we pursue accomplishment of our community and economic development goals. We look forward to having Christina on board."

Photo via City of Martinez/Facebook