Rebecca Bjork

The City Council appointed Rebecca Bjork as City Administrator in February 2022. Ms. Bjork brings extensive knowledge of City operations and a successful track record of accomplishments in the day-to-day management of the City operations. Ms. Bjork served as interim City Administrator since September 11, 2021.

Ms. Bjork has worked with the City of Santa Barbara for more than 33 years. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Interim Community Development Director, where she initiated work with the Council Sub-Committee to simplify the land development process, and was instrumental in the work to address homelessness and homeless encampments during the pandemic. Prior to that, she spent five years as Public Works Director overseeing the largest City department, with seven divisions, nearly 300 employees and a budget totaling $138 million. Among her accomplishments, she directed staff in the implementation and execution of the Measure C Capital Improvement Program for Infrastructure.

From 2007 to 2014, she served as Water Resources Manager with responsibility for water and wastewater utilities, which included the operation and maintenance of the Cater Water Treatment Plant and the El Estero Wastewater Treatment Plant. Throughout her tenure, she has been instrumental in various renewal and replacement projects for water and wastewater mains, street infrastructure, and major facilities to extend the life of the City’s essential infrastructure. Ms. Bjork holds a BA in Biology and Environmental Studies from Grinnell and an MPA from Cal State Northridge.