Fresno Public Works Director Scott Mozier is retiring after a long career in public works. Street photo by Krzysztof Kowalik on Unsplash.

Brian Russell, a City of Fresno employee since 1994, will take over the Public Works Department on Oct. 5 as longtime director Scott Mozier retires.

---

Fresno Public Works Director Scott Mozier is retiring after 24 years with the city, and Assistant Director Brian Russell has been named his successor.

City Manager Georgeanne White announced the leadership change in a news release. Russell will become public works director Oct. 5.

What’s happening

Mozier joined the City of Fresno Public Works Department in 2002 and became director in January 2014.

During his time with the city, Mozier has been involved in the planning, funding, design and management of more than 1,000 capital projects, largely funded through Measure C and federal and state grants, according to the city.

The city highlighted several projects completed during his tenure, including Veterans Boulevard, the Fulton Street Reconstruction Project and the Pave More Now initiative.

“Throughout his 24 years with the City, Scott has helped secure funding, build partnerships and successfully deliver projects such as Veterans Boulevard, the Fulton Street Reconstruction Project, the Pave More Now initiative and so much more,” White said. “We are grateful for his many years of service.”

Russell has worked for the public works department for more than three decades. He began his city career in 1994 as a maintenance and construction worker in the street maintenance division.

He later served as a heavy equipment operator, supervisor, street superintendent and public works manager.

Russell currently serves as assistant director of public works, overseeing 270 employees responsible for street maintenance, traffic signals and streetlights, landscape maintenance, urban forestry and graffiti abatement.

Why it matters

Russell’s appointment puts a longtime department employee in charge of Fresno’s public works operations and will lead to other changes in the department’s leadership.

According to the city, Russell has experience delivering paving, concrete and neighborhood infrastructure projects, as well as projects involving urban forestry, trails, the San Joaquin River Parkway, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements. He also leads the department’s emergency preparedness and stormwater management efforts.

“Brian knows Public Works from the ground up and has earned the respect of employees throughout the department,” White said. “He is a strong, proven leader who understands the work, knows how to bring people together and gets things done. I am confident he is the right person to lead the department into its next chapter.”

Other leadership changes

Russell’s promotion will also result in a realignment of other department responsibilities, according to the city.

Assistant Director Harmanjit Dhaliwal will take on city engineer duties and oversee Development Services.

Assistant Director Jill Gormley will take over the capital management function, overseeing coordination of Public Works projects with the city’s Capital Projects Department.

The city also plans to recruit a new assistant director to oversee street maintenance, landscape maintenance and graffiti abatement.

Russell is scheduled to become public works director Oct. 5.