The Southeastern Economic Development Corp. has followed the suggestion of a critical audit last year and hired a manager of projects and development.

SEDC, a city of San Diego redevelopment agency, just announced that it has hired Nancy Lytle to fill the post. Here’s what the agency has to say about her:

Nancy holds degrees from University of California, Santa Barbara and Davis. She comes with 20+ years of experience in redevelopment, city planning and management. Most recently, Nancy worked with the City of Chula Vista as the Assistant Planning Director. Previously, she served as the Planning Manager for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency where she was responsible for a $500 million capital program that was devoted to revitalizing the east side of downtown. Nancy was also a member of the Palo Alto City Council where she served one term.

“We are pleased to have someone with Nancy’s extensive redevelopment and planning background join the SEDC team. Her years of experience will help SEDC usher in a renewed commitment to the southeastern San Diego community,” said SEDC Interim Chief Administrator Brian Trotier in a press release.

The audit, which found that SEDC’s clandestine bonus system was fraudulent, also criticized SEDC for consolidating the management of its operations under one person, former President Carolyn Y. Smith, who was forced out after our investigation uncovered the bonus program. It recommended filling the position immediately.

My colleague Will Carless later revealed that SEDC funded the bonus program by budgeting for positions but keeping them open. From his September story:

SEDC has also not had a manager of projects and development since May 2000, though that position has appeared in the agency’s budget since fiscal year 2003-04. (In the budget for fiscal years 2006-07 and 2007-08, a footnote says that the position was “budgeted but not funded.”) The audit states that Smith was planning on hiring someone to the position in 2009, by which time the position would have been budgeted for, but not filled, for six years.

ANDREW DONOHUE

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