Title: Director & City EngineerOrganization: Culver City Department of Public WorksBiography: Charles has been the Public Works Director and City Engineer for the City of Culver City since August 2004. In this capacity he is in overall charge of the Department and oversees the activities of its five divisions: Administration, Engineering, Environmental Programs & Operations, Maintenance Operations and Mobility & Traffic Engineering. During his tenure with Culver City, Charles has overseen the City’s coordination with widening to the I-405 Freeway, construction of the Expo Light Rail Line and station and major developments in the downtown and Expo station area. In addition, Charles has spearheaded the City’s efforts in environmental areas including expanding refuse and recycling options for residents and businesses, storm water protection projects and programs including recent voter approval of funding through local Measure CW, numerous energy efficiency projects and development of an Urban Forest Master Plan and environmental friendly Parkway Planting Guidelines. Charles has also worked to improve the City’s transportation system, especially in the area of active transportation, overseeing the creation of the City’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Master and expanding the City’s bicycle network. Professionally Charles is active with the City and County Engineers Association of Los Angeles County having served as President of that organization in 2015. Also, Charles actively participates with the League of California Cities and served as the President of the League’s Public Works Officers Department from January 2018 to October 2019. He is a former member of the League’s Transportation, Communications and Public Works policy committee, a current member of the Environmental Quality policy committee and former Chairman and Project Manager of the Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment Oversight Committee (a committee that he continues to serve on). He is a licensed professional Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor in the State of California. Prior to coming to Culver City, Charles served the City of Hawthorne in various capacities including City Engineer, Airport Manager, Chief of General Services and Public Works and Interim City Manager during the period from 1985 until 2004. Prior to that Charles served as a commissioned Officer in the Navy’s nuclear powered submarine force from 1980 to 1984. He also served as a Naval Reserve Officer with the Reserve Naval Construction Battalion Sixteen (Seabees) and the First Reserve Naval Construction Regiment in Los Alamitos, California from 1987 to 1991. Charles is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University. He also has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and is an avid fan of USC sports. He is a resident of Santa Monica, California where he lives with his wife Susan and dog Rufus. Category: SpeakerConference: VX2020VX2017
