BOISE, Idaho — The City of Boise is facing the loss of two of their leaders. The Boise Police Chief is retiring, and the Director of Planning and Development Services is leaving.
After 29 years with Boise Police Department (BPD), Chief Ron Winegar will be retiring again in September. Winegar has been serving as Boise's Police Chief since he stepped in as interim chief in the Fall of 2022, after former police chief Ryan Lee was asked to resign. He was later appointed as permanent Chief. Mayor Lauren McLean said she was very thankful that Winegar came out of retirement, so the position wasn't politicized during the election.
But now, understandably, Chief Winegar is ready to retire again. When asked what Mayor McLean wants to see in the next police chief, she says that's up to the people of Boise. Which is why she's planning a lot of town halls and listening sessions to get feedback. "My goal is that people get tired of hearing about another time to talk about what they want in a police chief. And I'm serious about being transparent, engaging the community as much as possible," said McLean.
That's not the only big hire the mayor has to make. She's also losing the City's Planning & Development Services Director (or head City Planner) Tim Keane. He got a job in Calgary. His two years with the city were critical, considering his work to rewrite the rewrite of the zoning code, get it across the finish line, and fix permitting.
Mayor McLean said they were lucky to have Keane and want the next PDS Director to continue that work with the incredible team he helped build, "To follow in his footsteps, I'm looking for someone that can implement, that can make sure that the big steps that we made, and the advancements we made by passing a modern zoning code, to create a market-based approach to ensure we've got homes for our kids, and theirs, happens, and happens well."
They will need to work quickly; Keane's last day is Friday. Meanwhile, Steve Burgos is the Interim PDS Director, who currently leads the Public Works Department.
We also talked with the mayor about what elected leaders are saying. The overall mission of elected leaders, state or local, Republicans or Democrats, seems to be mostly the same. They say they want to give Idaho kids a superb education and make sure they can return to, or stay in, Idaho to build their lives, careers, and families. How they want our local students to get there can differ greatly.
I have heard from, or know, talented doctors, librarians, young students and other people in vulnerable groups that are leaving the state. It's because of some of the legislation and messages coming out of a few state lawmakers, specifically bills that target doctors, librarians, LGBTQIA+ kids and others in vulnerable groups.
Mayor McLean said she, and the City of Boise, are not going to do that, and will instead work to keep Boise a place for everyone. "It has been a high priority of mine to stay true to the vision that our residents have, and that is that Boise is a safe and welcoming city for everyone. And everyone means everyone. I can't tell you the number of moms and dads I talked to this summer when I was on porches concerned that their kids are leaving, because they've been targeted by the legislature and by the state... And the deep desire we all have to, not only protect our kids who are here, but to welcome our kids home. And we do that by staying true to the values Boise has as a welcoming city by speaking to the values that we have, so that people remember and know that yes, Boise is a place for me, I have a place in Boise because you do."
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