City of Perris
Mathew Evans is an experienced urban planning professional with a robust background in various planning roles across multiple organizations. Currently serving as Contract Principal Planner for the City of Perris since August 2023, Mathew previously held the position of Principal Planner/Advanced Planning Manager for the City of Lake Elsinore from August 2022 to August 2023. Earlier experience includes roles as Principal Level Planning Consultant at Interwest Consulting Group, Inc., Planning Director at March Joint Powers Authority, and Senior Level Planning Consultant at Michael Baker International. Mathew's career began with positions such as Senior Planner for Park City Municipal Corporation and Planning Consultant for Romo Planning Group. Mathew holds a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning from the University of Utah and has further educational background from Utah State University and Ventura College.
City of Perris
Perris is located in the heart of the fastest growing region in Southern California, between San Diego and Los Angeles. The City covers 30 square miles and has become a regional magnet. Perris has just the right mix in its formula—history, business development, growth, affordable real estate and leisure activities making it a great place to live, WORK and play. The City of Perris offers excellent career opportunities for its selected team including a stable environment, emphasis on professional development, and an innovative, competitive, and dynamic culture making each day a challenging and rewarding work experience. The City team upholds the following shared values: • Accountability • Honesty and Integrity • Professionalism • Mutual Respect • Open Communication • Excellent Customer Service City History: Perris is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad. The California Southern connected through the city in the 1880s to build a rail connection between the present day cities of Barstow and San Diego. CSR purchased the land from Southern Pacific Railroad in the Pinacate area for a town site. Local citizens offered to erect a depot, dig a well, and donate a number of lots to the railroad in exchange for establishing a station at the new town site. The Perris station came online in April 1886. By 1887, six passenger trains and two freight trains stopped at Perris daily and rapid growth followed for several years. After storms repeatedly washed out the tracks in the Temecula Gorge, service to San Diego through this route ended. Perris officially incorporated as a city in 1911.