Background
Peter Fernandez is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University where he teaches PA 515, Public Works Administration. He is the Public Works Director at the City of Salem, Oregon Public Works Department; a department with over 450 full- and part-time employees, and annual operating and capital budgets of $90 million and $100 million, respectively. The department provides a wide variety of services to a municipality of 164,000 residents and a service area of 220,000, including:
- Treatment, delivery and storage of drinking water
- Collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater
- Flood control, storm water collection, and environmental stewardship
- Streets and parks maintenance and operations
- Planning, engineering and project delivery for all city-funded capital projects
- City recreation services including the senior center
Peter has over 30 years of experience in engineering, planning and public administration. He has worked at the City of Salem Public Works Department since 1995 holding the positions of Director (since 2007), Assistant Director, and Transportation Services Manager. In 2010 he also served as Acting Deputy City Manager. Prior to his tenure in Salem, Peter worked at the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, Barton-Aschman Associates, Inc., and Miami-Dade County.
Peter is a registered professional engineer in Oregon, Washington and Florida. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida International University. He is fluent in Spanish.
Professional Affiliations
Member, Institute of Transportation Engineers
Member, American Public Works Association
Member, American Water Works Association