Executive Management

Traci J. Minamide, PE, BCEE

Interim Director and General Manager

Traci served as Chief Operating Officer for City of Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), a department of over 3,500 employees with an annual revenue of over $1 billion. She retired from LASAN in 2024 and has recently returned as Interim Director and General Manager. Traci has been with the City for over 38 years serving in many capacities including wastewater treatment, water reclamation, biosolids, water planning, environmental regulations, stormwater management, and solid resources.

Traci holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, and certification in Executive Management for State and Local Government from Harvard University. She is also a licensed professional Civil Engineer in the State of California and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer through the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. She is past President of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) and currently serves on the Board of the Southern California Alliance of POTWs (SCAP). Traci also served as a member of the State of California’s Advisory Panel on Direct Potable Reuse. For all her accomplishments, Minamide was recognized with the Asian American Architects and Engineers Leadership Award in 2023.

Sarai Bhaga

Chief Financial Officer

Sarai is responsible for the formulation of long- and short-range fiscal management programs, developing financial resources for capital improvement projects, maintaining accounts for a variety of special funds, managing debt resources, and financial analysis activities. She previously worked at the Office of the City Administrative Officer for 21 years and has broad experience in the areas of budget, public finance, capital projects, contracts, human resources, policy, and legislative issues. Sarai received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Business Administration from UC Riverside and her Master’s in Public Policy from the Claremont Graduate School.

Alex E. Helou, P.E.

Assistant Director, Solid Resources Program Development

Alex heads the Solid Resources Group that is responsible for managing solid waste for the entire City of Los Angeles, including collection, transport, and processing of source separated recyclables, green materials, and municipal solid waste from 750,000 residential customers. Alex leads a workforce of over 1,300 employees in five Divisions, with an annual operating budget of over $180 million. He is in charge of implementing many key solid waste management strategies to help the City of Los Angeles achieve Zero Waste by 2025, including the Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan and the Commercial Franchise System. The City has exceeded the 75% diversion rate and continues moving toward the zero waste goal. A 22-year veteran of the City of Los Angeles, Alex is a Board registered Professional Chemical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.

Gabriel Miranda

Assistant Director Solid Resources Operations

Gabe began his city career in 2001 with Solid Resources Collections and has steadily advanced through the ranks over the years. With experience in four of the five divisions now under his leadership, Gabe brings a deep understanding of solid resources operations and a well- rounded perspective to his role.

In 2016, Gabe played a pivotal role in forming the Livability Services Division and leading major initiatives including the CleanStat, Illegal Dumping, Cleaning and Rapid Engagement (CARE), and Public Receptacle Programs. He established the LSD’s Core functions such as administration, data, and performance management. Since his promotion to Division Manager, Gabe has continued to strengthen and expand these services, further advancing LASAN’s mission to enhance the cleanliness, safety, and livability in our city.

Gabe provides innovative leadership and strategic direction across the five Solid Resources divisions, advancing growth and operational excellence with a strong emphasis on collaborative management-labor relations to enhance public service for our City.

Robert Potter

Assistant Director, Clean Water

Robert Potter started his career in 1989 with LASAN in the Wastewater Collection Systems Division (WCSD) as a Maintenance Laborer. He worked in WCSD for 12 years, reaching the level of Wastewater Collection Supervisor. He then moved to the Solid Resources Division as a Refuse Collection Supervisor in 2001. Robert was promoted to Solid Resource Superintendent in 2004 and worked as a Superintendent in West Valley, South Los Angeles, Harbor and East Valley Districts. Robert moved back to WCSD in 2007 as the Assistant Division Manager, where he managed the Collections division until 2016. In 2016, he became the Division Manager of Solid Resource Support Services Division (SRSSD), successfully negotiating numerous contracts for disposal, recycling and ultimately the rollout of the state-mandated Organics program for the 750,000 residential customers serviced by LASAN. He also worked to electrify the refuse collection fleet which will see the first two fully electric automated refuse trucks in use in March 2023.

Hi-Sang Kim, P.E.

Assistant Director, Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant

Hi Sang Kim has been with LASAN since he joined the City in 1985 as a Laboratory Technician at Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. He spent all of his career in the LASAN’s Clean Water Program mostly working at Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant. Between 2003 and 2014, he was the lead liquid process engineer at Hyperion and contributed to keeping plant processes in compliant and efficient modes. Since 2014, he has been serving Hyperion as the Operations Manager, and as the acting plant manager for the last two years.

Throughout his career, he demonstrated outstanding leadership and engineering skills for the safe, compliant and efficient operations of LASAN’s Reclamation Plants. For the next chapter of the Clean Water Program, he will provide leadership and guidance for the resilient operations of the reclamation plants and water recycling in LASAN.

Nicole Bernson

Assistant Director, External Affairs and Special Projects

Nicole Bernson is LASAN's Assistant Director for External Affairs and Special Projects overseeing Legislative and Government Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, the Public Affairs Office, Community Outreach Team, Community Services Group, Service Coordination, Customer Experience, Digital Communications and Marketing, Employee Engagement and Social Equity Hiring.

Nicole joined the City of Los Angeles in 2003 serving 16 years with Council District 12, most recently as Chief of Staff. Prior to joining LASAN in 2021, she served as the City's Assistant Director of Finance for 3 years, overseeing Treasury Services, Budget, Fiscal and Performance Management, Customer Support, Accounting and Administrative Services.

Nicole began her career on the business side of the entertainment industry and was a small business owner for fourteen years before joining the public sector.