Bill Robertson, Director of the Bureau of Street Services, City of Los Angeles

Bill Robertson is the Director of the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Street Services (BOSS), having been appointed to that position on January 22, 2003, by Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn.

As such, he's responsible for the maintenance of the largest municipal street network in the United States, one that includes 6,500 lineal miles of road. The boss of BOSS presides over an annual budget of $136 million, which is used to resurface roads, enforce code regulations, and trim trees, among other services.

BOSS will be working closely with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils (NCs) in spending up to $8.5 million, starting July 1, 2005, to upgrade the roads in the NCs' neighborhoods, under a plan proposed by incumbent Mayor and candidate for re-election James Hahn.

Mr. Robertson spoke today with Unwired LA about the source and use of these funds to improve the streets of the City of Los Angeles.

You can hear that interview by clicking here.

Mr. Robertson explains in that interview that five to eight million dollars of new California State gas tax money will be coming to the City of Los Angeles (by way of the County of Los Angeles) on the basis of how much gasoline is consumed in the City and due to the increased consumption of gasoline statewide.

If Mayor Hahn's proposal to assign responsibility for spending that money is approved by the City Council this spring, these funds will become available at the start of the new fiscal year, on July 1, 2005. Mr. Robertson said he hopes to have the plans for spending it in place by that time.

The Director of the Bureau of Street Services explains in this interview how BOSS has provided around 65 "assessments" to the appropriate NCs, detailing the condition of the streets in each NC's area and listing possible road improvement projects.