Public Works director briefs new infrastructure commission on staffing, divisions and CIP delivery

Ted Gerber, director of public works for South Pasadena City, gave the commission a departmental overview and a status report on the city’s five‑year capital improvement program (CIP), explaining how City Council priorities, staffing levels and project funding shape what the department can deliver.

Gerber told commissioners the consolidated Public Works Infrastructure Commission combines responsibilities from two prior commissions and will develop a work plan aligned to Council goals. “Your role is an advisory body towards council,” Gerber said, describing how staff and the newly formed commission will coordinate work planning and agenda development.

Gerber outlined five divisions (transportation, engineering/CIP, operations and maintenance, environmental programs and sustainability, and water) plus two administrative teams. He described chronic vacancies in engineering — three engineering positions had been vacant for over a year until one new hire started — and said the department has used a temporarily contracted CIP program management team to help keep projects moving while recruitment continues.

Gerber presented fiscal figures for the current CIP year: the department reported a FY24–25 CIP budget in the presentation of…