Mayor Donna Deegan has appointed Helena A. Parola as the city's next Planning Director. | LinkedIn
Published on June 5, 2025 at 3:31 pm
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Jacksonville’s interim Planning Director Helena Atalla Parola has been nominated as the Planning and Development Department’s permanent leader.
Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration announced Thursday that she is appointing Parola – a 27-year veteran of the department – to fill the role that’s been vacant since April after former Director R. Brett James submitted his resignation. The appointment is pending City Council’s approval.
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Parola began her career with the city in 1998 as a city planner supervisor before spending the last year as acting chief of the Community Planning Division, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Permitting, land use, zoning and building codes and inspections, among other services, all fall under the Planning and Development Department’s umbrella. The Deegan administration has been working to streamline the city’s permitting process for more than a year.
“As Director, I look forward to working more closely with community members, developers and local officials to create a healthier environment through the policy and planning process,” Parola said in the mayor’s news release. “I really love this city, and I want everyone who lives here to be proud to call it home.
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Parola’s salary as Planning Director is $190,550, the same as her predecessor’s, the mayor’s spokesman Phil Perry told Jacksonville Today in an email.
Deegan appointed James planning director in February 2024, and he served for just over a year. He had a 24-year U.S. Naval career before that and was director of strategic planning for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command in San Diego, California.
James submitted his resignation letter to city Chief Administrative Officer Karen Bowling in April, according to a memorandum dated April 11.
“Following up from our discussion earlier today, I’m resigning from the City of Jacksonville effective at the end of the pay period on April 25, 2025,” the memo said. “…I’ll be on administrative starting tomorrow through that date. I thank you and many others for the opportunity to serve this wonderful city.”
According to a city news release, Parola will be responsible for developing and managing all operations of the Planning Department, which includes the Community, Current and Transportation Planning Division and the Office of Resilience.
Before her promotion, Parola has been acting as liaison to city departments and commissions, state and regional agencies. The news release says Parola has most recently been responsible for interpretation, management and update of the City’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan determining compliance with state requirements, land use amendments and historic preservation guidelines.
Parola is the spouse of Guy Parola, the city’s Downtown Investment Authority’s director of operations.
“I am looking forward to Helena continuing her longstanding service as the Director of Planning,” Deegan wrote. “She brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to the position, both of which will benefit her department, and in turn, our citizens.”
