The Minneapolis City Council approved a $64,729 settlement for departing regulatory services director Greg Stubbs on Friday, only nine months after he took the job and two days after Mayor R.T. Rybak announced a major restructuring of the department.

The 12-1 council action -- made with no discussion -- also included approval for six months of COBRA health insurance for Stubbs and another $6,000 in relocation expenses. In return, Stubbs agreed not to make any claims against the city.

Council Member Gary Schiff cast the lone vote against Stubbs, noting afterward that he had also voted against his November appointment to the position.

"I didn't vote for him, so ... I'm not voting to pay to watch him leave," Schiff said.

Council Member Cam Gordon, vice chairman of the council's regulatory committee, said it would have been nice if the city figured out how to restructure the department before searching for a new director last year. The position became vacant after Rocco Forte quit abruptly in May 2011.

"The timing is a bit off. ... I feel a little bad that it didn't work out," said Gordon of Stubbs' departure.

Stubbs did not return messages. Other council members, including regulatory services committee chair Elizabeth Glidden, declined to discuss why he was departing, saying it was a private personnel matter.

Rybak said in an e-mail to council members and department heads that he intends to designate Deputy City Coordinator Jay Stroebel as interim director of regulatory services. The department includes the city's housing and building inspectors, civilian traffic enforcement and other functions

The mayor's budget proposal, subject to council approval, would move business licensing and development review out of the regulatory services department into the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development. It would also shift the environmental management division into the Department of Health and Family Support, leaving a smaller inspections department focused on enforcement.

Maya Rao • 612-673-4210