Portland will change leadership of its Public Works Service Area in September as Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal leaves the city. Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent Williams will serve as interim deputy city administrator while City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III prepares a national search for Dhanapal’s permanent successor.

Key Takeaways

• Priya Dhanapal will leave Portland city government on Sept. 4.
• Millicent Williams will serve as interim deputy city administrator for Public Works.
• The Public Works Service Area includes Transportation, Parks & Recreation, Water and Environmental Services.
• The service area encompasses about 3,000 employees and a $4.7 billion budget.
• City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III plans to begin a national recruitment for the permanent position this fall.

Priya Dhanapal to Depart Portland Public Works Leadership

Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal will depart the City of Portland on Sept. 4, ending her role as the leader of the Public Works Service Area. City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III announced the leadership transition and said a national search for her permanent successor is planned.

Dhanapal was selected to help establish the Public Works Service Area two years ago when Portland transitioned to its new form of government. Before joining Portland city government, she held public works leadership positions with Clark County, Washington, and the City of Beaverton.

Her departure affects a service area responsible for several major municipal functions. Public Works includes the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services.

The service area has about 3,000 employees and a $4.7 billion budget. Its responsibilities cover transportation, parks, water and environmental services across the city.

The transportation responsibilities come as Portland continues addressing its long-term street funding needs, including a new transportation utility fee approved earlier this year. 

Lee will oversee the search for Dhanapal’s replacement. The recruitment is expected to begin this fall, leaving Williams to manage the service area on an interim basis during the transition.

Millicent Williams Named Interim Deputy City Administrator

Lee appointed Millicent Williams, director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, as interim deputy city administrator for the Public Works Service Area. Williams will take on the broader leadership role while continuing the transition from her position at PBOT.

Williams became director of PBOT in 2023 after previously serving in a leadership role with the bureau. Her public-sector experience also includes leadership positions in Washington, D.C.

Her appointment places an existing Portland transportation official in the broader administrative position while the city searches for a permanent deputy city administrator.

Williams’ responsibilities will extend beyond transportation. The Public Works Service Area also includes parks and recreation, water services and environmental services, giving the interim position oversight across multiple city departments.

The appointment is part of a wider recruitment process for deputy city administrator positions. National recruitments are already underway for the deputy city administrator roles overseeing the Public Safety and City Operations service areas.

Public Works Oversees Four Major City Bureaus

The Public Works Service Area combines four city bureaus: the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services.

Together, those bureaus employ about 3,000 people and operate with a $4.7 billion budget. Their responsibilities cover services and infrastructure that residents encounter through transportation, parks, water systems and environmental programs.

The service area’s structure was established two years ago when Portland moved to its new form of government. Dhanapal was selected to help stand up the service area and bring the four bureaus under a shared administrative structure.

The arrangement gives the deputy city administrator responsibility for coordinating major municipal functions across the four bureaus. The position therefore covers a range of city operations rather than a single service area such as transportation or parks.

The parks component includes a system facing ongoing questions about maintenance and operations, with the city examining new support for Portland’s parks system. 

Williams’ interim appointment maintains leadership of the combined service area while Portland prepares to recruit a permanent deputy city administrator.

Dhanapal Advanced Transportation, Parks and Water Projects

During Dhanapal’s tenure, the Public Works Service Area worked on transportation funding, Vision Zero, capital project planning and water management.

The service area also reached key milestones on the Bull Run Filtration Project. The project is part of Portland’s water system responsibilities and was among the major initiatives overseen during Dhanapal’s tenure.

Portland’s parks system was also part of the work under the Public Works structure. The service area supported the Parks Levy and the launch of a new vision for Waterfront Park.

Other projects cited by the city include improvements involving the Washington Park reservoir, the new Darcelle XV Plaza and the return of the Thompson Elk Fountain.

These projects span the four bureaus within Public Works. Transportation funding and Vision Zero fall within PBOT’s responsibilities, while parks projects are handled by Portland Parks & Recreation and water-related work falls under the Portland Water Bureau.

The water bureau’s responsibilities also include utility and regional infrastructure matters. Portland recently began collecting a new flood safety fee on utility bills, with revenue supporting regional flood-protection infrastructure. 

The service area’s work also includes environmental services, giving the deputy city administrator responsibility across another major municipal function.

Portland Plans National Search for Permanent Successor

Lee plans to launch a national recruitment for the Public Works deputy city administrator position this fall. The search will determine who permanently succeeds Dhanapal after her departure.

The recruitment is separate from national searches already underway for deputy city administrator positions overseeing Public Safety and City Operations.

Until a permanent Public Works leader is selected, Williams will serve as the interim deputy city administrator. Her existing experience leading PBOT gives her responsibility for one of the four bureaus within the service area.

The transition will place an existing city bureau director in the broader administrative position while Portland conducts its recruitment.

The change also comes as Portland continues addressing municipal budget and service priorities across city government. Recent Portland City Council budget measures have included funding decisions affecting city services, transportation initiatives and other municipal operations. 

Dhanapal’s departure is scheduled for Sept. 4. The city will then continue the Public Works Service Area under Williams’ interim leadership while the national search proceeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Priya Dhanapal leave Portland city government?

Priya Dhanapal will leave the City of Portland on Sept. 4, 2026. She currently serves as deputy city administrator for the Public Works Service Area.

Who will lead Portland Public Works on an interim basis?

Millicent Williams will serve as interim deputy city administrator for the Public Works Service Area. Williams is the director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

Which bureaus are included in Portland’s Public Works Service Area?

The service area includes the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services.

How many employees are part of Portland Public Works?

The Public Works Service Area encompasses about 3,000 employees. It has a $4.7 billion budget.

When will Portland begin its search for a permanent Public Works leader?

City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III plans to launch the national recruitment for the Public Works deputy city administrator position this fall.