Allen Tai has been selected as the permanent Director of the City of Alameda’s Planning, Building, and Transportation (PBT) Department. Tai has previously worked for the City of Alameda in a variety of roles in the department, including as Deputy Director, City Planner, and Planning Services Manager. Tai has also worked for the City of San José.
City Manager Jennifer Ott, in announcing the appointment, noted, “Allen has more than 20 years of experience working in the field of planning, including over 14 years working for the City of Alameda, most recently as the Acting PBT Director. Allen’s commitment to serving Alameda’s residents and businesses and his strong relationships throughout the City organization make him ideally qualified for this role.” He starts the position on November 6, 2023.
Allen Tai has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from San José State University. He is a certified city planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners and a LEED Accredited Professional.
The new appointed Director said, “I am grateful to have served the Alameda community for nearly 15 years and I am eager to continue collaborating with City staff, residents, businesses, and local organizations to meet the evolving needs in our community. I am honored to be the first Asian American director to lead the Planning, Building, and Transportation Department in the City of Alameda.”
The PBT Department assists the community in planning, implementing, and overseeing changes to the physical and natural environment, ensuring alignment with local, regional, state, and federal policies and regulations. The department comprises the Planning Division, Permit Center, Sustainability and Resilience Division, Building Division, Transportation Planning, and Code Enforcement.
PBT’s plans over the next year includes implementing the new Housing Element, refreshing the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, and continuing to plan for an estuary water shuttle and a future bridge crossing.
The City also expressed gratitude to outgoing Director Andrew Thomas, who is retiring after a lengthy career with the City of Alameda. He served as PBT Director and Planning Section Chief of the Emergency Operations Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
