Today, Mayor Jackie Biskupski accepted the resignation of April Townsend, Director of the Department of Public Services.

“April Townsend has chosen to leave her position with the city, and I have accepted her resignation,” said Mayor Biskupski on the announcement. “April is highly qualified and an excellent choice to lead the Department of Public Services, but this department requires enormous commitment and responsibility from its director. April expressed to me a need to devote more attention to other areas of her life and I respect that decision.”

April Townsend’s resignation is effective immediately. Lisa Shaffer will serve as interim director while a search for a permanent replacement is underway. Lisa has served for two years as the Administrative Services Director for Public Services.

“I was deeply honored to be asked to serve Mayor Biskupski and the great employees of the Department of Public Services, but over the last week, I have come to realize that at this point in my career, my focus is upon furthering my academic interests and completing my doctorate work.” April Townsend said. “I have expressed my regret to the mayor and am confident in her leadership moving forward. Both the mayor and the City need a leader in this position fully devoted to serving the residents of this great city.”

The Department of Public Services provides many of the direct services Salt Lake City residents and visitors receive, including street repair, park maintenance, open space management, golf course operations, snow removal, graffiti removal, tree maintenance, refuse disposal and recycling, street sweeping, traffic signs and signals maintenance, special event planning, and parking enforcement.