Consent Agenda Item 3d
STAFF REPORT
Consent Agenda Item
DATE: April 6, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve Pay Schedule, Appointment and Employment Contract for Community Development Director/City Engineer
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the updated pay schedule and the appointment of Brendan Byrd as the Community Development Director/City Engineer and authorize the City Manager to execute the employment contract.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Fortuna Municipal Code (FMC) identifies the Community Development Director/City Engineer as the Department Head for the Community Development Department with the main purpose of operating and maintaining the city’s streets, drainage system, buildings, utility system, vehicles, and equipment. The position of Community Development Director has been either on leave or vacant since August 15, 2025. The position is an unrepresented at-will position under the supervision of the City Manager.
The City updated the title and scope of the Community Development Director position to Community Development Director / City Engineer. This revision reflects the integration of engineering duties into the department head role. FMC Section 2.10.010(B) establishes that the Community Development Department’s purpose includes “planning, engineering, building inspection, and solid waste functions.” Formally assigning City Engineer responsibilities to the Director aligns the position with these statutory duties, strengthens coordination between planning and engineering, enhances customer service for applicants, and reduces the City’s dependence on some contract engineering services. The position is at-will, FLSA exempt, and already budgeted.
Key responsibilities include:
Community Development Responsibilities:
• Long-range planning, zoning, housing, building inspection oversight, CEQA compliance, staff supervision, and preparation of recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council.
City Engineer Responsibilities:
• Approval or conditioning of subdivision tentative maps; approval of parcel and final maps; determination of survey monument requirements; and approval of subdivision improvement plans and associated securities.
• Development and maintenance of public improvement and sewer standards; review and approval of engineering plans, specifications, and estimates; inspections and acceptance of public improvements.
• Traffic engineering responsibilities, including signal timing, traffic safety analysis, and determinations on parking/loading zones within the public right-of-way. • Review and approval of encroachment permits and site-specific traffic control plans, enforcement of right-of-way and ADA access requirements. • Sewer system determinations on prohibited discharges; grease/oil/grit interceptor requirements; wastewater sampling methodology approvals. • Authorization of grading and erosion control measures outside standard specifications when warranted by site conditions.
The City conducted a recruitment and interviewed qualified applicants for the position. The City was fortunate to receive an application from a highly qualified candidate for the position named Brendan Byrd. Mr. Byrd is familiar with the City as he was the City’s Public Works Director/ City Engineer from August 2019 to April 2025.
Mr. Byrd has a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Mr. Byrd most recently is serving as the Executive Director to the Humboldt County Association of Governments since April 2025 where he was responsible for the planning and executive leadership of Humboldt County’s 7th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation Process, 2026 update to the Regional Transportation Plan and 2026 Regional Transportation Improvement Program.
The Council reviewed with the City Manager the Community Development Director/City Engineer potential recruitment on February 2 and approved an exception to the hiring freeze on March 2. The recruitment for the position immediately followed the approval of the exception to the hiring freeze. Mr. Byrd has accepted the offer and is expected to start work around June 22, 2026. During Mr. Byrd’s previous tenure with the City, after five years of employment he received an employment contract. Therefore, it is recommended the City Council appoint Mr.
Byrd to the position of Community Development Director/City Engineer and authorize the City Manager to execute the employment agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total pay and benefits cost of the employment contract with the Community Development Director/City Engineer is within the budgeted amount included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget due to salary savings from the position being vacant for an extended period. This position, as with past Director’s, is distributed across the General Fund, Development Funds – Building and Development Review, as well as Enterprise Fund Water and Wastewater. There is an increase to the General Fund of $4,000 due to a salary increase, as the previous salary was not competitive locally or statewide and will be included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. This increase in FY 26-27 will be entirely offset by decreasing the amount of contracted Planning services.
In addition, as staff continue to expand the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, there is an opportunity to leverage CDBG administrative funds to offset staff costs. Staff Consent Agenda Item 3d
Consent Agenda Item 3d
are also exploring modifications to the Building Program to possibly incorporate code enforcement functions, which are partially supported by Measure E.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Approve the updated FY25-26 Pay Schedule and appointment of the Community Development Director/City Engineer and authorize the City Manager to execute the employment contract.
Consent Agenda vote.
ATTACHMENT:
• Employment contract
• FY 2025-26 Pay Schedule