Community Development Director Arminé Chaparyan resigned this week after approximately seven months on the job, marking the latest departure among Santa Monica's senior leadership.
Chaparyan's resignation follows the recent departure of Police Chief Ramon Batista and adds to a series of high-level exits that have included City Attorney Doug Sloan and Director of Housing and Human Services Heather Averick.
Chaparyan said she was leaving to pursue another opportunity.
"The last soon-to-be seven months serving in this capacity has been an honor. I inherited an amazing, dynamic, talented team in the Community Development Department that was hungry for support, motivation, and activation," she said in her letter to City Manager Oliver Chi. " Each staff member has impacted me profoundly and I am forever grateful
to them for their welcome. In this period, I'd like to think that I played a small part in helping reignite the City's economic development efforts, leading to the creation of an interdepartmental task force that tackled fundamental areas that have now helped reshape the City's "Say Yes," attitude and led to the launch of key initiatives. With our Department's efforts, we have worked diligently to meet City Council's priorities and moved transformational projects and programs along as they pertain to housing, economic development, building, and code enforcement."
The rapid turnover comes as Santa Monica faces ongoing challenges in city leadership stability. Chaparyan had been appointed to lead the Community Development Department in January with an annual salary of $273,384, taking over from Planning Manager Jing Yeo, who had served as interim director since Dec. 31.
City Manager David White had announced Chaparyan's appointment following longtime Director David Martin's retirement announcement in September. At the time, White praised Chaparyan's extensive background and expressed confidence in her abilities.
Chaparyan brought more than two decades of local government experience to the position. She had most recently served as city manager for South Pasadena and previously held roles as assistant city manager and community development director for San Gabriel, as well as redevelopment and community preservation manager and city clerk for Santa Clarita.
The Community Development Department oversees planning, building and safety, and housing programs for the city. Chaparyan had begun her role Feb. 3, inheriting a department that had been managing local impacts from the Palisades Fire emergency during the interim period.
The recent spate of resignations come as new City Manager Oliver Chi takes over at City Hall.