Chapter 2.08
CITY ADMINISTRATOR*
Sections:
2.08.040 Acting Administrator – Appointment.
2.08.080 Removal of the City Administrator.
2.08.090 Agreements on Employment.
* For statutory provisions on the City Administrator, see Government Code § 34851 et seq. and § 36510.
Note: Ord. 77-22, codified in this chapter, was re-enacted in a City election, November 6, 1979.
2.08.010 Office Established.
The office of City Administrator is established. The City Administrator shall be selected by and appointed by the City Council on the basis of administrative and executive ability and qualifications and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the City Council, under the provisions set forth in this chapter. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 230).
2.08.020 Eligibility.
No member of the City Council shall be eligible for appointment as City Administrator within one year following termination of service on the City Council. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 231.1).
2.08.030 Bond.
The City Administrator and any acting City Administrator shall furnish a corporate surety bond, to be approved by the City Council, in such sum as may be determined by the City Council, and shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the Administrator by this chapter. The cost of such bond shall be borne by the City. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 231.2).
2.08.040 Acting Administrator – Appointment.
The City Council may also appoint an Assistant City Administrator to serve as acting Administrator during the temporary absence or disability of the City Administrator. If there is no Assistant City Administrator, the City Administrator shall file with the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tempore) or in the Mayor/Pro Tempore’s absence the City Clerk or Deputy or Assistant City Clerk, a written notice designating a qualified City employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the office during the Administrator’s temporary absence or disability. In making such delegation, the City Administrator may specifically exclude certain powers and/or duties of the office, in which case those powers shall revert to the City Council for the period of such delegation. In the event the City Administrator’s absence or disability extends beyond 60 days, the City Council may appoint an acting City Administrator of its own selection. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 231.3).
2.08.050 Compensation.
A. The City Administrator shall receive such compensation as the City Council shall, from time to time, determine.
B. In addition to compensation, the City Administrator shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
C. On termination of employment of the City Administrator by reason of involuntary removal from office, other than for willful misconduct in office, the City Administrator shall receive cash severance pay in a lump sum equal to one month’s pay for each year of continuous service, or major fraction thereof, as City Administrator, up to a maximum of six months’ pay, such pay to be computed at the highest salary received during service as City Administrator. Involuntary removal from service shall be construed to include voluntary termination of service immediately following a reduction in compensation not applicable to all employees of the City. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 231.4).
2.08.060 Powers and Duties.
The City Administrator shall be the administrative head of the government of the City, under the direction and control of the City Council. The Administrator shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all of the affairs of the City which are under the Administrator’s control, and responsible therefor to the City Council. In addition, and not as a limitation of the general powers of the office, the Administrator shall have the duty and the powers set forth in the following:
A. Enforcement of Laws. It shall be the duty of the City Administrator to assure that all laws and ordinances of the City are enforced and that the orders of the City Council are carried out.
B. Fiscal and Budgetary Matters. The City Administrator shall supervise and be responsible for all fiscal and budgetary matters, advising the City Council on the financial needs of the City, current and future, and shall supervise budget preparation and control, and shall propose an annual salary plan for the City Council.
C. Powers Over Employees. The City Administrator shall be responsible for all employee actions, including recruiting, employment, appointment, advancement, and discharge, with the exception of actions relating to the City Attorney and City Treasurer which shall be carried out by the City Council.
D. Direction of Departments. As the head of the City’s management team, the City Administrator shall be responsible for and shall provide administrative direction for the day-to-day operation of all departmental activities.
E. Support of the City Council. The City Administrator shall be responsible to the City Council for the preparation of agendas, for the provision of all necessary clerical functions for the Council, and the maintenance of necessary records.
F. Control of Expenditures and Purchasing. It shall be the duty of the City Administrator to supervise and control expenditures of City funds. The City Administrator shall be responsible for the purchase of all supplies and services for all departments.
G. Public Works and Public Buildings and Grounds. The City Administrator shall exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, and all other public property under the jurisdiction of the City Council. The Administrator shall review the scheduling of all public works, including street, sidewalk and storm drain projects and repairs, to assure that such projects and repairs create the minimum interference with the normal activities of the community.
H. Additional Duties. It shall be the duty of the City Administrator to perform such other duties and to exercise such other powers as may be delegated from time to time by the City Council. (Ord. 78-5 § 1, 1978; Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 232).
2.08.070 Internal Relations.
A. Council-Administrator Relations. The City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative services and department heads of the City only through the City Administrator, except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the City Council nor any member thereof shall give orders or instructions to any subordinates of the City Administrator. The City Administrator shall take orders and instructions from the City Council only when it is sitting in a duly convened meeting, and no individual Council member shall give any orders or instructions to the City Administrator.
B. Departmental Cooperation. It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers, including department heads, the City Attorney, the City Engineer and the City Treasurer to assist the City Administrator in administering the affairs of the City efficiently, economically and harmoniously.
C. Attendance at Commission and Committee Meetings. The City Administrator may, and upon request of the City Council shall, attend all meetings of the Planning Commission, the Library Board, the Community and Cultural Commission, the Forest and Beach Commission, the Community Activities Recreation Commission, and any other commission, board, or committee created by the City Council. At such meetings, the City Administrator shall be recognized and heard by the presiding bodies on all matters upon which the Administrator wishes to address such body.
D. Appeals of Commission or Committee Decisions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, and consistent with State law, the City Administrator may appeal any decision of any commission, board, or committee created or appointed by the City Council. The appeal shall follow the procedures established for other appeals, except that no fee shall be required. In making such appeal, the City Administrator shall have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as any other appellant. (Ord. 98-2 § 1, 1998; Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 234).
2.08.080 Removal of the City Administrator.
The City Administrator serves at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed by a four-fifths vote of the full City Council. In removing the City Administrator, the Council has absolute discretion and its action is final and conclusive and does not depend upon any findings. (Initiative Measure, November 8, 1983; Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 233).
2.08.090 Agreements on Employment.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation on the power or authority of the City Council to enter into any supplemental agreement with the City Administrator to establish additional terms and conditions of employment not inconsistent with any provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 77-22 § 1, 1977; Code 1975 § 235).