8C
Date: February 24, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Civil Service Commission
Hedieh Khajavi, Human Resources Director
By: Anaid Navarro, Principal Human Resources Analyst | [email protected] Subject: Civil Service Commission and Human Resources – Approve Revised Class Specification and Examination to Fill Public Works Director Position.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Civil Service Commission and Human Resources Director that City Council:
1. Approve a revised class specification for Public Works Director; and
2. Approve an examination to fill the Public Works Director position on an open basis.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
There is no current eligible list for the classification of Public Works Director. The current Public Works Director has announced his intent to retire effective May 2026, creating a need to conduct an examination.
The Human Resources Director is recommending an open examination to expand the pool of Public Works Director candidates to provide the broadest range of candidates who best meet the needs of the City and the Public Works Department. Torrance Municipal Code Section 14.1.29 provides that examinations to fill department head vacancies can be either open or promotional as determined by the City Council after a recommendation by the Civil Service Commission. Both internal and external candidates will be encouraged to apply and participate in the examination process.
The class specification for Public Works Director has been reviewed, and revisions have been made to reflect the current functions of the position. Pending approval, the revised class specification will appropriately reflect the position for the examination process. 1 City Council
February 24, 2026
This matter will be considered by the Civil Service Commission on Monday, February 23, 2026 and will be available as Material Available, after the posting of the agenda, to confirm the Civil Service Commission's approval of the revised class specification and examination to fill the Public Works Director position on an open basis.
ATTACHMENT
1. February 23, 2026 Civil Service Commission Item (Materials Available) 2