City Manager Chris Price has named Brian S. Solis, AICP as Deputy City Manager for Community Development. In his new role, Solis will serve as a member of the City’s executive leadership team and oversee the City’s community development departments including Economic Development, Planning, Development & Permits, and Parks, Recreation & Tourism.

Solis is making a return to the City of Chesapeake, having formerly served as both a Current Planner and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Planner with the City, from 1995 until 1999. Solis has spent the past 22 years in various roles with the City of Virginia Beach, including serving as Assistant to the City Manager for Special Projects, Director of the Resort Management Office, interim roles as the Director of the Strategic Growth Areas Office and co-Director of Parks and Recreation as well as Transportation Planning Manager and Planning, Design & Development Administrator. He has an extensive background in capital program administration, innovation in local government and organizational strategic planning.

“Community development and place-making are key elements of City Council’s vision and strategic plan for Chesapeake,” said City Manager Price. “Brian will bring tremendous value to our community development initiatives and his leadership will serve our City well as we continue to grow and prosper. I am extremely pleased to have him join our outstanding leadership team and I am confident that he will help us continue to make Chesapeake an exceptional place to live, learn, work, farm, and play.”

Solis holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with an Urban & Regional Planning emphasis from Old Dominion University. He is also a graduate of the LEAD Program at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia. Solis is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and has been credentialed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Chesapeake has always been a leader in developing and fostering strong communities of every size and type,” said Solis. “The opportunity to add my experience, which began right here in this City, to the dynamic, forward-focused work already underway was one I simply could not pass up. As the City approaches its 60th anniversary, I look forward to supporting efforts to create even more authentic places for our residents and guests to have meaningful experiences. Because at the end of the day, those experiences are what we remember and cherish the most about where we live, work, and visit.”

Solis joins Dr. Wanda Barnard-Bailey, Deputy City Manager for Wellbeing and Quality of Life; Laura Fitzpatrick, Deputy City Manager for Internal Customer Service; and Robert “Bob” Geis, Deputy City Manager for Operations and Public Safety as part of the City’s executive leadership team. Solis will begin work on November 22, 2021.