Nicholas Liguori’s previously inexplicable exit as the City of Chino’s director of development services, it has turned out, came about because he was offered a similar but more lucrative position in neighboring Chino Hills.
Liguori began with Chino as a planner in 2004. By 2012, he was the deputy director of community development. In 2014, he was promoted to director of community development. In 2018, he was promoted to director of community services.
Liguori has a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge. He is certified as a planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners.
While with Chino, Liguori was the lead staff member on the effort to update that city’s comprehensive general plan and complete two housing element updates.As the head of the community development department in Chino Hills, he will be the city’s highest-ranking land use official and oversee a staff of 16, which includes the employees with the planning and building and safety divisions. All proposals for residential, commercial and industrial development will flow through the offices he is responsible for.
It is unclear whether Liguori was recruited by the City of Chino Hills and/or invited to apply for the post he is to assume on June 26 or whether he applied for the position after the city began the process of filling the community development director’s spot when JoAnn Lombardo retired as community development director in March.
Liguori was provided with a $212,858.77 salary, $28,565.00 pay add-ons and perquisites and $56,096.16 in benefits for a total annual compensation of $297,519.93 in Chino.
Lombardo was pulling a salary of $212,735.17, slightly less than that paid to Liguori. She was provided, however, with pay add-ons and perquisites of $36,083 and benefits of $140,002, for a total annual compensation of $388,820.17.
It has not been spelled out precisely, but there is reason to assume Liquori will be remunerated at a rate comparable to Lombardo.
“I am excited to welcome Mr. Liguori to the City of Chino Hills,” said Chino Hills City Manager Benjamin Montgomery. “His impressive background and expertise attained from a 22-year municipal career will be instrumental in guiding our city’s development in a manner that reflects our community’s priorities. His economic development knowledge will also be invaluable to our city.”
“The City Council and I are thrilled to have Mr. Liguori join the City of Chino Hills’ executive team,” said City of Chino Hills Mayor Peter Rogers. “We are looking forward to having Mr. Liguori collaborate with staff, residents, and businesses to ensure responsible development in Chino Hills that preserves our city’s beauty, open space, and hillsides, while meeting the evolving needs of our community.”