HUNTINGTON BEACH : Biggs Hired as Development Director

The city has hired a former resident as its new director of economic development, a position that includes overseeing redevelopment projects as well as attracting and retaining businesses.

The City Council this week appointed David Biggs, 35, to the post. Biggs, who is now city manager of Morgan Hill near San Jose, will start his new job Oct. 2 and will receive an annual salary of about $98,000.

City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga said that Biggs “comes highly recommended” and was chosen from 134 applicants. He said Biggs was instrumental in developing a consensus on projects in Morgan Hill and Long Beach, where he was development project manager from 1984-88.

Biggs said he will work toward expanding Huntington Beach’s sales-tax base and completing downtown redevelopment plans. He said he also wants to “help strengthen neighborhoods” and will oversee affordable housing projects and the allocation of federal grants for community services.

Biggs began his public service with Santa Ana in 1980 as an administrative intern while in college and in 1982 became that city’s economic development specialist.

In 1988, Biggs accepted a position in Australia as a business development manager for the South Australian Technology Development Corp. Two years later, the Cal State Fullerton graduate was hired by Morgan Hill to head its economic development efforts and in 1992 became city manager.

Biggs, who holds a master’s degree in business and public administration from UC Irvine, said, “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of working with the community and with a City Council that is committed to economic development.”