Joan English has been with the City of West Hollywood for over 20 years and in total she has more than 40 years of experience working in municipal government. Ms. English currently serves as the Assistant City Manager and her work involves oversight of the day to day operations of the City Additionally, Ms. English is leading the City’s 25th Anniversary Capital Project, the largest capital project in the City’s history. In celebration of 25 years of Cityhood, the City of West Hollywood has embarked upon a new Capital Project to develop premiere public facilities, parks and open space.
The Capital Project consists of three distinct projects. On June 1st 2009, the City broke ground Phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan which includes building the new West Hollywood Library; New Public Meeting Rooms; a Coffee Bar; Parking Structures; and the expansion of park and green space. The Capital Project also includes the expansion and renovation of West Hollywood City Hall including a 250-space public parking structure. Additionally, the Capital Project includes the first phase of the Plummer Park Master Plan; completing the renovation of the community/performing arts space, building a new parking structure and increasing the park and green space.
Prior to becoming the Assistant City Manager, Joan English served as the City’s Director of Transportation and Public Works and as the Deputy City Manager. Ms. English was instrumental in the creation of the City’s first parking structure and five additional surface parking lots. She was instrumental in the creation of the City Line, bus pass, taxi coupons and dial a ride programs. In addition, Ms. English served as the City’s lead on the Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction project. Ms. English led the Transportation and Public Works Department to receiving a variety of awards including the 2004 American Public Works Association (APWA) Project of the Year Award and an Outstanding Government Civil Engineering Project. In 2002, the Santa Monica Boulevard Rehabilitation Project received a Transportation Marketing & Communications Association Tranny Award as a Special Project and a Project of the Year Award in 2001 from the APWA.
Prior to joining the City of West Hollywood, Joan English was the Traffic Management Director for the City of Portland. She received a Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration at USC. At USC, English was awarded an SCAPA Fellowship.
Ms. English is involved in many professional organizations, including the National League of Cities, the League of California Cities; the International City Managers Association; the Urban Land Institute and the Westside Urban Forum.
During her free time, Joan loves traveling and listening to live music. She has traveled extensively all over the world to witness solar eclipses.