Novato Appoints Chris Benigni as Public Works Director

The City of Novato is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Benigni as Public Works Director. In this role, he will oversee the department's engineering, maintenance and administrative divisions.

Benigni joined the City in September 2025 as Deputy Public Works Director, bringing more than eight years of progressive leadership experience in municipal public works. His background includes managing stormwater and roadway infrastructure operations, delivering capital improvement projects from design through construction, and leading long-range infrastructure planning initiatives.

City Manager Amy Cunningham stated, "Chris has already demonstrated outstanding leadership and a deep commitment to providing high-quality public services to our community. His experience and collaborative approach make him the right person to lead our Public Works Department. We are excited to see him step into this role."

Prior to joining the City of Novato, Benigni served as Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Largo, Florida where he oversaw key operational divisions, including facilities, asset management, energy program and department-wide strategic planning.

Benigni holds a Master of Liberal Arts from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. In addition to various technical certifications, he also holds graduate certificates in natural resource management and sustainable ecosystems, and environmental policy and international development.

"I'm honored to serve as Public Works Director and continue working alongside our talented Public Works team," said Benigni. "Our staff delivers essential services to maintain and improve the City's infrastructure, and I'm excited to build on that work while planning for Novato's future needs."

Benigni will begin his new role on March 23, 2026 and will receive an annual base salary of $230,376.