Portland Utilities Director Placed on Paid Leave
The city has confirmed that public utilities director Ting Lu is currently on paid leave.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Do you trust the stability of your local government leadership?
Portland public utilities director Ting Lu has been placed on paid leave. Millicent Williams notified city leaders of the status, which was later confirmed by a city spokesperson.
Why it matters
The development marks a leadership shift for the department, which manages key city services. Lu has led the department since the launch of the One Water initiative.
Priya Dhanapal, the former deputy city administrator of public works, recently departed the city with a $221,000 severance payment. Lu has served as director since January 2026.
The players
Ting Lu
She is the director of public utilities in Portland who was previously the deputy director of the environmental services bureau.
Millicent Williams
She serves as a city official who notified leadership regarding the change in the status of the public utilities director.
Priya Dhanapal
She is the former deputy city administrator of public works who left her position in the city government.
The details
The director of public utilities position was established following the One Water initiative, which merged the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services. Before her appointment to the top post, Ting Lu worked as the deputy director of the environmental services bureau.
Timeline
Priya Dhanapal began serving as deputy city administrator in 2024.
Ting Lu began serving as director of public utilities in January 2026.
Ting Lu was placed on paid leave in October 2026.
Market Landscape
The leadership change impacts the administrative oversight structure established by the One Water initiative. This shift highlights ongoing organizational adjustments within Portland's consolidated infrastructure departments.
Residents should not expect immediate interruptions to basic water or environmental utility services during this leadership transition. The city has not announced changes to service fees or utility access at this time.
The takeaway
City utility departments are currently navigating the complexities of post-merger operations following the implementation of the One Water initiative. Maintaining administrative continuity remains a priority for municipal leaders during personnel transitions.
Further reading
For more information on local service management, visit the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Willamette Week.
Live Poll
Do you trust the stability of your local government leadership?
