St. Pete selects new development czar
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jul 7, 2022

A longtime city employee will serve as St. Petersburg’s new city development administrator — the role that oversees all facets of the municipal process related to real estate development.

James Corbett, who was most recently the community and neighborhood affairs administrator, is the new CDA, the city said Thursday morning. Corbett has been a city employee since 2005 and has lived in St. Petersburg for 36 years. He has held a variety of titles, including inspection supervisor, operations analyst, operations manager and director of code compliance. Prior to working with the city, Corbett worked in the financial industry for a large asset management firm.

Alan DeLisle held the CDA position under former Mayor Rick Kriseman. Joe Zeoli, who has served as interim CDA since Mayor Ken Welch took office, will return to his previous role as managing director of city development.

“I’m passionate about being able to help facilitate the growth of our great city while making sure we hold onto all the wonderful characteristics that make St. Pete unique,” Corbett said in a statement. “I’m grateful for this new opportunity to help St. Pete continue to shine.”

There were 33 applicants for the position, a spokeswoman for Welch said, and Corbett’s “extensive experience in city government and directly with the city of St. Petersburg made him the most qualified candidate for the role.”

The CDA’s role includes the oversight, development, administration and implementation of “planning, zoning, economic and business development, licensing, inspection, urban redevelopment, property acquisition and disposition, transportation and parking and real estate and property management,” according to the city.

Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas CEO and former city council member Amy Foster will become community and neighborhood affairs administrator. Foster served as a city council member from 2014 to 2021.

“I am excited for the opportunity to bring my decades of experience in leadership and advocacy roles to the city of St. Petersburg, where I will be part of an excellent team of professionals working to ensure equitable access to quality of life within our city,” Foster said in a release. “I want to thank Mayor Ken Welch and City Administrator Rob Gerdes for entrusting me with this important work, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter.”

Both positions are effective Aug. 15.

“James Corbett has demonstrated superb dedication, professionalism, talent and growth in his 16 years with the city and will be an asset to our organization in this new role,” Welch said in a statement. “Amy Foster’s experience in the advocacy sector and as a city council member makes her an ideal person to lead or Community and Neighborhood Affairs department, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the team. I’d also like to thank Joe Zeoli for his excellent work as interim city development administrator.”