SANTA MONICA—According to a press release from the city of Santa Monica, Public Works Director Martin Pastucha has announced he will retire on July 8. Pastucha has served Santa Monica as Public Works Director for the past five years and has over three decades of public service.

Prior to joining the city government in Santa Monica in January 2011, Pastucha was Public Works Director for the cities of Pasadena and La Habra. He has continually been active with the League of California Cities, serving as President of the Public Works Officer Department in 2010 and on the Board of Directors from 2012-14.

Mr. Pastucha is a member of the International Affairs Committee of American Public Works Association, the Board of Directors of Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association, and CALTRANS Transportation Advisory Committee.

During his time with the Santa Monica Public Works department, Mr. Pastucha managed an annual budget of $125.8 million and oversaw nine divisions with a total of 505 full-time employees.

“Martin’s devotion to public service is evident in every corner of our community,” said City Manager Rick Cole in a statement. “He leaves a lasting legacy of improved public facilities including parks, streetscapes, water-wise landscaping and modern equipment and technology. Every day our residents benefit from the Public Works team that he built and led. His commitment to both environmental and fiscal sustainability as well as his calm and tenacious commitment to getting things done means Santa Monica is better off today because of his leadership.”

Under Pastucha’s supervision, the Public Works department approved major projects that included the EXPO Light Rail, the construction of Tongva Park, Ken Genser Square, Colorado Esplanade, Pico Branch Library, CityTV facility, and the seismic retrofit of City Hall and California Incline.

He was very active in water works and water conservation and was responsible for building the new Charnock Water Well, and multiple citywide water and wastewater pipeline rehab and replacement projects.

“It has truly been an honor and privilege to work alongside the Public Works staff who are some of the most creative, hardworking and innovative people I have been associated with in my career,” said Martin Pastucha in a statement. “Based on the evolution of this department over the last six years, I am confident in the ability of the staff to continue to uphold the excellence in services and deliver projects that Santa Monica has come to expect and deserve.”

Along with Public Works Director, Pastucha also held the position of Airport Director where he oversaw operations at SMO. In 2015, he served as interim Assistant City Manager, playing a large part in the leadership while the city searched for a new City Manager.

An internal recruitment will begin for a new Public Works Director.