Hermosa Beach council interviews 15 applicants for Public Works Commission; pier, city yard and staffing top concerns

The Hermosa Beach City Council on June 9 interviewed 15 applicants for two seats on the Public Works Commission, hearing repeated calls to address the Hermosa Pier, finish the city yard repairs, and improve staffing and project prioritization.

Applicants described a mix of technical experience and local engagement. Aaron Bender, a senior scientist with the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights, told the council they have worked “at the intersection of environmental compliance, infrastructure management, and community engagement.” Bender recommended a structured decision‑making matrix and monthly commission meetings to increase public engagement and coordination across departments.

Several candidates flagged the pier as the city’s highest‑priority capital challenge. Nate Flory, a 20‑plus‑year resident, described repeated neighborhood crashes and urged traffic calming; “People could get killed,” Flory said, using his neighborhood’s near‑misses to argue for safety improvements. Other applicants also listed the pier, wastewater and storm‑water upgrades, and the city yard among top agenda items.

Multiple interviewees emphasized capacity and preventive maintenance. Applicants with facility, engineering and project‑management backgrounds urged the commission to prioritize preventive maintenance for sewers, streets and drainage and to require staff follow‑up reports after project approval so the council can track performance against original metrics.

Process and transparency were recurring themes. Several candidates asked the city to replace cumbersome spreadsheet reporting with a dedicated CIP management tool, or at least to publish clearer, data‑driven prioritization frameworks. Jean Kim, who works with cloud computing for government clients, offered to help design intake and road‑mapping systems to improve how the commission evaluates projects.

Council members led a consistent interview format — an opening prompt followed by short, targeted follow‑ups based on each applicant’s resume. The city clerk reported no public comment was received for tonight’s open session. The council did not make appointments at the public session; Mayor Prom Keegan said votes would be taken later in the evening after completing interviews.

The interviews also included one administrative change: applicant Rebecca Noble withdrew her application for the Public Works Commission and asked to remain under consideration for the Civil Service Board, a request the council acknowledged.

The council adjourned the open session at 5:52 p.m. and announced a brief break followed by a closed session and subsequent continuation of the meeting, with appointment votes to be tallied later in the evening.