Public Works Director Colleen Ferguson announces retirement

Sonoma Public Works Director and City Engineer Colleen Ferguson announced last week she would be retiring at the end of the year, according to the City of Sonoma.

Ferguson will retire after a 32-year career working for the local cities of Santa Rosa and Sonoma. She has served as the Sonoma Public Works Director since 2017.

“Thirty years ago I set a goal to be in a position to retire when I turned 60 years old,” Ferguson said in announcing her retirement. “I turned 60 at the end of September and decided that it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life.”

Ferguson, known to city staff as “Fergy” ― so as to not be confused with the city’s Public Works Administrative Assistant Colleen Pratt ― has worked on and led some important projects for Sonoma. During her tenure the city completed construction of the West Napa Street Water System Replacement Project; Depot Park First West Improvements; and several pavement maintenance, pedestrian and bicycle-safety projects.

Additionally, she developed the city’s Five-year Capital Improvement Program budget, and completed the 2018 Water Master Plan Update and associated water rates.

Ferguson and her team are currently working on the Fryer Creek Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Project, which will be completed by the end of summer 2022; the Montini Connector trail, which is proposed for completion in spring 2022; several paving projects for construction in summer 2022; and water supply improvement projects for drought-related grant funding.

“City infrastructure and services provide the foundation for everyone in the community to live, work and play,” said Ferguson. “It has been a privilege to serve the Sonoma community for the past four-and-a-half years.”

Prior to Sonoma, Ferguson worked for the City of Santa Rosa Department of Public Works for 28 years serving in various positions including Deputy Director. Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from San Jose State University.

In the announcement, Sonoma City Manager Garrett Toy expressed his appreciation for Ferguson’s service and wished her “a happy retirement.”

“Fergy has come to a decision most of us make at some point, retirement,” said Toy, who started with the City of Sonoma in July. “I have only known her for a few months, but her dedication to her department and the city is commendable.”

Toy said the city will likely retain a firm to conduct a recruitment search for a new public works director.