“Siobhan’s energy is unsurpassed and Riverside will always value the results of her hard work and dedication” said Mayor Ron Loveridge. “Under Foster’s leadership and in times of fiscal uncertainty, Public Works employees routinely provided innovative solutions producing exceptional results.”
Examples of “best practices” launched by Foster are the award winning Clean Up Riverside’s Environment (CURE), a comprehensive recycling and public education program. Additionally, Public Works responds to the greatest number of “311” calls for service in the City. Her team responded to 57,054 calls or 56% of all calls coming to the City over a 12 month period.
Other accomplishments during Foster’s tenure in Riverside include completion of $269 million in infrastructure projects as part of the city’s Riverside Renaissance initiative, with another $489 million of additional projects now in construction or final design. Projects include railroad grade separations, reconstruction of freeway interchanges, and rehabilitation of Victoria Avenue. Examples of other cost saving and innovative solutions include the introduction of Asphalt Rubber Aggregate Membrane in lieu of traditional asphalt for street paving, reducing costs by 50 percent, and the installation of the first fuel cell in California that uses 100 percent biogas to generate 1 MW of power at the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant.
Foster credits Riverside employees with the success of Public Works saying, “The department is incredibly responsive. The department is respected. The department can be counted on to deliver no matter what.” Foster’s leadership resulted in these achievements despite significant funding and staffing reductions. “All this is testament to our incredible employees who provide exemplary services to our residents each and every day,” Foster said.
On October 26 Foster assumes the leadership role for Pasadena’s largest city department, Public Works, and will oversee six key areas that include the following divisions: Finance and Management Services; Engineering; Construction; Street Maintenance and Integrated Waste Management; Parks and Natural Resources, and Building Systems and Fleet Management.
Interim City Manager Scott Barber named Tom Boyd as Interim Public Works Director until a permanent replacement is selected. That process will begin immediately. Boyd has been with the City since 1998. He was promoted to Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer in 2000 and acted as Interim Public Works Director for about 18 months from late 2001 to March 2003.