Melissa, interim airport manager, told the Airport Advisory Board the city plans to recruit a full‑time airport general manager and has engaged a consultant to draft the job description and assist with recruitment. She said the consultant will finalize a job description and class allocation, after which human resources will process a reclassification and the city will advertise and recruit.

Melissa said the consultant engagement is structured as a professional services agreement similar to the Tim Rogers retainer; the consultant will help draft the position description, perform market review and assist with advertising and screening. Staff expect advertising and interviews in late November or December and a selection timeline that could result in on‑boarding around the start of next year; Melissa said the city manager is aware and supportive of the transition to a full‑time airport manager role and that the position will report through the department structure described to the board.

Board members asked about the timeline and expressed support for completing the role to relieve interim staffing pressures. Melissa said the new hire will shift daily operational responsibility to the airport manager while the department retains oversight and that additional operational staff will be considered in future budgets.