A Dream Come True to Practice Planning

West Sacramento is a "small city with big problems--a rundown waterfront, squabbling politicians, prostitutes and seedy motels....But for Toby Ross, an urban planner with a Ph.D...West Sacramento is a little slice of heaven." It has been a little over a year since he was hired, and Mr. Ross has already become "the City Council's point man for the city's most difficult and long-standing problems," and a skilled negotiator. "But West Sacramento leaders say the city manager's biggest challenge may be meeting residents' expectations."