Consent Item 4d
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: June 2, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve Appointment of Public Works Director and Advance Salary Step STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the appointment of Brian Issa as the Public Works Director and an advance salary step 4 as detailed in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 full-time pay rate schedule.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Fortuna Municipal Code (FMC) identifies the Public Works Director as the Department Head for the Public Works Department with the main purpose of operating and maintain the city’s streets, drainage system, buildings, utility system, vehicles, and equipment. The Public Works Director position has been vacant since April 8 and filled by an interim appointment. The position is an unrepresented at-will position under the supervision of the City Manager. The position has been a contract position in the past and is not presently a contract position.
The City actively recruited for several months and conducted interviews of qualified applicants for the position. The recruitment process was difficult because public works professionals are in very high demand. The City was fortunate to receive an application from a highly qualified candidate for the position named Brian Issa. Mr. Issa was interviewed by a panel that included the Interim Public Works Director, City Manager and Former Public Works Director. Mr. Issa then met with four other City Department Heads.
Mr. Issa has a bachelor’s degree from Utah State in Biology and Chemistry, and a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning. Most recently, Mr. Issa worked for the City of Eureka as a Deputy Public Works Director and was responsible for oversight and management of water distribution, wastewater collection, streets, equipment operations, and code enforcement. Mr. Issa has also managed a number of projects such as: implementation of telematics across a fleet of more than 150 vehicles; replacement of 10,000 water meters; responsible for overseeing the transition to OpenGov permitting and licensing software; start up and management of a new fueling station, overseeing the streets, water and wastewater crews; and managed transition to customer ownership of all sewer laterals.
The Council has reviewed with the City Manager Mr. Issa’s application and resume in closed session and reviewed compensation at step 4 of the pay rate schedule for that position, and the accumulation of 40 hours of sick and 68 hours of vacation leave. Mr. Issa has accepted the offer and has cleared the necessary physical and background required to be appointed for the position and is expected to start work on June 16, 2025.
Consent Item 4d
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total pay and benefits cost of the Public Works Director is budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 and 2025-2026 budgets.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Approve the appointment of the Public Works Director and advance salary step 4 as detailed in the 2025-26 full-time pay rate schedule. Consent Agenda vote.