The Renton City Council has confirmed Mayor Armondo Pavone’s appointment of Martin Pastucha as the city’s new public works administrator.

Pastucha replaces Gregg Zimmerman, who retired in February after serving the city for 30 years.

“I am very excited to have Martin join our team,” said Mayor Armondo Pavone in a news release. “I’m extremely impressed with his experience and knowledge. He is an energetic team player who will make an immediate impact in Renton.”

Pastucha comes to Renton after a more than 30-year career in local government in both California and Washington. He most recently served as interim public works director for San Fernando, Calif. He was recently a finalist for the public works director job in Port Townsend, and in that interview, said he lives on Bainbridge Island and commuted via airplane to California part of each week, according to the Port Townsend Leader.

In 2018, he was hired as Redmond’s public works director, but suddenly resigned seven months later because of his “long commute and organizational fit,” according to the Redmond Reporter. In 2016, he retired after five years as Santa Monica’s public works director and had been making a salary of $270,924, according to the Santa Monica Observer. He had previously spent seven years as public works director for Pasadena and La Habra.

The city of Renton announced Pastucha’s scheduled start date is June 1. A city spokesperson confirmed Pastucha’s annual salary at $180,708. View a list of Renton city employee salaries here.

“I am looking forward to joining the city of Renton,” said Pastucha in the city’s news release. “The city has an excellent reputation for liveability and their public works department is regarded as one of the best in the region.”