To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Authorize the Payment of 5% Above Base Salary for Travis Smith, County Administrative Office Project Manager, While Performing the Principal Duties of the Airport Operations Manager (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize an increase in pay of 5% as additional compensation calculated on base salary, for Travis Smith, County Administrative Office (CAO) Project Manager, while performing the principal duties of the Airport Operations Manager under the Humboldt County Salary Resolution, Section 7, effective April 12, 2026. (4/5 Vote Required)
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Workforce & Operational Excellence
Strategic Plan Category: 3001 - Support a well-trained workforce
DISCUSSION:
On April 10, 2026, the Airport Operations Manager will retire, creating an immediate and critical vacancy in a key operational leadership role at the Department of Aviation. Recruitment for this position opened on March 11, 2026, and, while initially scheduled to close on April 8, 2026, will remain open until filled to ensure the strongest possible candidate pool.
Given the timing of this transition, coupled with the recent shift of the Aviation Director to an Interim Director role performing remote work, it is essential that experienced, on-site operational leadership be maintained to support airport staff, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide continuity of services to the aviation community.
To address this gap, Travis Smith has been working alongside the current Airport Operations Manager since March 27, 2026, to gain critical operational knowledge and provide interim Airport Operations Manager-level support. This effort is intended to stabilize day-to-day operations and maintain continuity during ...
Click here for full text