City Council Approves New Public Works Director

The Santa Barbara City Council this week approved the hiring of Christine Anderson as the new director of the city’s largest department, Public Works. Anderson, who will begin her new job June 9 with a $185,000 salary, fills the void left by Tony Nisich, who retired in October. City Community Development Director Paul Casey filled in as interim Public Works director in the meantime, and will return to his duties in that department in June.

Anderson takes over the department of 300 employees and a $106 million annual budget after having served as the Public Works Director for the city of Long Beach, where she worked from 2003 to 2007. She was also an acting city manager for one year and deputy city manager for two years in Boulder, Colo. “This is an important appointment for the city and I’m pleased to have found a highly qualified public works professional with an impressive track record,” City Administrator Jim Armstrong said in a statement.