EVENT DETAIL

Please join us on Thursday, January 20th for a presentation on the Shell Beach Streetscape project. Our presenter is Ben Fine, Director of Public Works and City Engineer for the City of Pismo Beach. Come hear why this project was recently awarded the 2021 Bikeways & Trail Project of Year from the ASCE Los Angeles Section. 

The Shell Beach Streetscape project is an 18 block long Complete Streets project improving safety and livability in the community for users of all ages and abilities. The project includes reconstructing the roadway, increasing lighting and landscaping, adding an 8-foot-wide multi-use path, and striping changes. Sidewalk and ADA upgrades, drainage improvements, new crosswalks with paver inlays for increased visibility, and a new parking lot were also included. Decorative features such as new LED streetlights, new benches, trash cans and public art were installed throughout the corridor. This project also  included significant utilities work, upgrading the water infrastructure and undergrounding the overhead utilities along the entire 18-block corridor. 

Our Speaker: Ben Fine, P.E., M.S., M.B.A

Mr. Fine was hired by the City of Pismo Beach in November 2008 as an associate engineer and promoted to the City's Director of Public Works/City Engineer in January of 2013. Mr. Fine holds master's degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration as well as a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering. He is a licensed civil engineer in the State of California with over twenty years of private sector and municipal engineering and management experience as well as seven years of teaching experience at the university level. He has experience in water resource management, land development, hydrology, drainage, budgeting, contract negotiations, storm water management, construction management, contract management, and project management.

Mr. Fine is the first-vice president of League of California Cities Public Works Department, chair of the County of San Luis Obispo State Water Subcontractors Committee, a member of the League of California Cities Transportation, Communication & Public Works Policy Committee and is a member of the American Society for Civil Engineers, WateReuse Association, California Water Environment Association and the American Public Works Association. He served as the inaugural president of the Central Coast Chapter of WateReuse Association and is a former chair of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments Technical Transportation Committee.

As Public Works Director for the City of Pismo Beach, Mr. Fine is responsible for the management, maintenance and construction of the water and wastewater systems, maintenance and construction of all public infrastructure which includes parks, beaches, water and sewer infrastructure as well as streets and public buildings. In addition to his professional accomplishments and involvement, Mr. Fine coaches his daughters sports teams, and serves on the Shell Beach Elementary PTO and School Site Council.  Mr. Fine is dedicated to public service and his profession.