John Keho, one of West Hollywood City Hall’s longest-serving and most influential senior staff members, is retiring next month.
Keho announced at the Planning Commission’s Thursday night meeting that his last day will be July 31.
“We don’t want to let you go, but we understand as you said, you’ve been working since 1985 and it’s time to do more marathons,” incoming Chairman Rogerio Calvaheiro said.
With a tenure of more than 20 years, Keho has a long-standing association with the City of West Hollywood. He began his journey as a planner and gradually climbed the ranks, achieving promotions to positions such as planning manager, assistant director, and interim director within the Planning and Development Services Department. Finally, in 2019, he was appointed as the department’s director.
In this role, he is responsible for overseeing three divisions of the department: Building and Safety, Current and Historic Preservation Planning, and Long Range Planning. These divisions play a crucial role in upholding the City’s fundamental principles and providing innovative leadership to enhance livability within the community. The Planning and Development Services Department actively supports three Commissions: the Planning Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Transportation Commission. Additionally, Keho conducts Director’s Hearings pertaining to land use permits.
John’s passion for planning has been ingrained in him since his early years. Even during high school, he actively engaged in public participation by volunteering with his neighborhood association to address quality of life concerns. As he pursued his college education, he worked in the planning department of his hometown. John obtained a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois and has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1994. Prior to joining the West Hollywood team, he served as a planner in Carrollton, Texas, and Plymouth, Minnesota. His move to California was prompted by his husband’s enrollment in the UCLA Film and Television Program, leading them to establish roots in the state.
“As much as we’ve loved having you here, please don’t feel obligated to come to West Hollywood Planning Commission meetings in the future unless you’re just incredibly compelled to do so,” outgoing Chairwoman Stacey Jones joked. “Just imagine loving your job that much.”
Happy Retirement!
John Keho is one of the brightest, nicest, and even-tempered people I’ve had the pleasure of working with and knowing. He is an encyclopedia of land-use policy and can answer almost any question from memory but instead of expecting you to simply take his word for it, he always pulls out the Code and shows you the answer. The City is losing a great resource as he begins his much-deserved retirement. Congrats and thank you for your service Mr. Keho!
He’s likely in the Weho $400,000 per year club, including benefits that continue endlessly. No wonder there’s little money for Sheriffs to protect us, when the City feels it’s more important to have people advise us of the permitted building setback of a plot of land.
Unban planning is a little more complex than what you describe. He got a degree, jumped around the country fine tuning his skills, and 20 years later landed in the “big time” where he worked his way up the latter. He deserves whatever retirement he’s entitle to…….More cops? That’s a different story to take up with the city council.
I agree he’s entitled to whatever he’s entitled to. The problem is these “golden parachutes” the City gives out, sometimes to their friends, or people who will go along with their sometimes nonsense for decades, are too generous. At Council meetings, he rarely gives a personal opinion, he usually is there to just regurgitate back what the written code already states. Not sure that’s worth $400,000 per year, and in retirement, he will get a similar amount until he goes to “the other side”. He is a smart and truthful person, but do not confuse politeness with a dynamic personality.… Read more »
You’re putting misinformation out there. Employees are members of CalPers and the City has no influence on that outside of the bargained formula. But go on about misinforming.
He’s the one who was pushing, making scooters permanent, even though the scooter companies were not upholding their end of the bargain. Although some people say he was good at his job, I’m not a fan!
John Keho is recognized as an ethical, highly intelligent and knowledgeable executive. His presence will be be missed and his successor will have a significant role to fill. Personally, John sets goals (marathon…) and also achieves in that arena. We wish John and Carl continued fulfillment in all they do and many years of bliss in what is sure to be an active retirement.
Stay tuned for his alleged next position outside of the city.