Eric Lopez

Today, City Manager Tom Modica appointed Eric Lopez as Long Beach‘s Director of Public Works. Mr. Lopez has served the City since 2006 and has led several key projects and initiatives. As director, he will oversee the department’s 500-plus employees focused on maintaining and enhancing the City’s infrastructure and environment.

“Mr. Lopez understands how to navigate the complexities associated with the wide variety of projects that Public Works delivers,” said Modica. “He’s ready to lead on day one and provide excellent service to the community.”

Over the past 14 years, Mr. Lopez has served the City as a Management Assistant, Administrative Analyst, Program Manager, Tidelands Development Officer, Project Management Officer and, most recently, as the Project Management Bureau Manager in Public Works. He has played an instrumental role in delivering award-winning projects, including the Colorado Lagoon restoration, Houghton Park Community Center and Stearns Park Community Center improvements, Seaside Way Pedestrian Bridge, as well as improvements to the Convention Center facility. Mr. Lopez also has been instrumental in the development of signature playgrounds, the beach pedestrian path, recreational sports fields, ADA improvements and many more.

Mr. Lopez has taken a leadership role in improving how the City delivers both capital improvements and other City services involving the public rights-of-way. Under his leadership, the Public Works Private Development and Rights-of-Way Team has been restructured, significantly improving customer service and becoming more responsive to community needs.

“I am honored and excited to join the City’s leadership team and to lead the Department of Public Works,” said Lopez. “I’m fully committed to working with community partners and the City team to build a safe, clean, sustainable and healthy city that’s responsive to evolving community needs and priorities.”

Core responsibilities of Public Works Director include:

  • Overseeing the maintenance and rehabilitation of the City’s core rights-of-way infrastructure including streets, sidewalks and the City’s urban forest.
  • Providing services supporting a healthy and sustainable city environment, including waste diversion, storm water management and enhanced livability infrastructure.
  • Safely and efficiently designing, constructing, delivering and maintaining public facilities.

Mr. Lopez holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He lives in Long Beach with his wife and two children. His appointment is effective Immediately.

About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths.

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