Chapter 2.21
CITY MANAGER
Sections:
2.21.010 Appointment—Compensation.
2.21.050 Participation at council meetings.
2.21.060 Interference with city manager prohibited.
2.21.070 Regulation of personnel.
2.21.010 Appointment—Compensation.
A city manager shall be appointed by a majority vote of the council membership. The manager shall receive compensation as the council may determine. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)
2.21.020 Term—Removal.
Subject to the contract of employment, the city manager shall hold office at the pleasure of the council and may be removed at any time by the council. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986; Ord. 94-03 § 1, 1994.)
2.21.030 Qualifications.
The city manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications, with particular reference to education, training, and experience as a professional municipal administrator. The council may set forth specific qualifications by ordinance. No elected municipal official may be appointed manager sooner than one year after leaving elected office, except by a vote of three-fourths of the authorized membership of the governing body. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986; Ord. 23-05 § 2, 2023.)
2.21.040 Powers and duties.
The city manager is the chief administrative officer. The manager shall:
A. Appoint city employees and administrative officers, except as provided otherwise in Section 2.06.040 of this code and in AS 14.14.065; the manager may hire necessary administrative assistants and may authorize an appointive administrative officer to appoint, suspend, or remove subordinates in his or her department;
B. Suspend or remove, by written order, city employees and administrative officers, except as provided otherwise in Section 2.06.040 of this code and in AS 14.14.065;
C. Supervise enforcement of city law;
D. Prepare and submit the annual budget and capital improvement program for the council;
E. Execute the budget and capital program as adopted;
F. Make monthly financial reports to the council on city finances and operations;
G. Report to the council at the end of each fiscal year on the finances and administrative activities of the city;
H. Prepare and make available for public distribution an annual report on city affairs;
I. Serve as city personnel officer unless the council authorizes the manager to appoint a personnel officer;
J. Direct the care and custody of all municipal property;
K. Direct and supervise the construction, maintenance, and operation of municipal public works, excluding schools;
L. Make such recommendations to the council as he or she may deem expedient or necessary;
M. Assign, in his or her discretion and subject to council approval, additional functions or duties to offices, departments or agencies established by ordinance and likewise transfer functions or duties from one office, department or agency to another, or establish a distribution of work among the divisions of offices, departments or agencies;
N. Administer and manage the water and sewer distribution utilities and other municipal services by means of officers and employees as he or she shall appoint;
O. Execute other powers and duties specified in Title 29 of the Alaska Statutes or lawfully prescribed by the council. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)
2.21.050 Participation at council meetings.
The manager shall have the right to take part in the discussion of all matters coming before the council. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)
2.21.060 Interference with city manager prohibited.
Except for the purposes of inquiry, the council and its members and mayor or other official of the city shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the council nor any council member nor mayor nor other city official shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager, either publicly or privately. Neither the city council nor any of its members nor the mayor shall dictate the appointment of any person to office or employment by the city manager, except as permitted by state law or the ordinance of this city, or in any manner interfere with the city manager or prevent him from exercising his own judgment in the selection of officers and employees in the administrative service. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)
2.21.070 Regulation of personnel.
The city manager, subject to council approval, shall have the power to make rules and regulations relating to the hiring and firing, retirement program, working conditions, hours and terms of employment, leave, classification, salaries, and the like of all of the employees of the city. These rules and regulations shall be published from time to time as the council may direct, and shall be on file in the office of the city clerk. All appointments and promotions of municipal officers and employees shall be made on the basis of merit. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)
2.21.080 Acting manager.
If the manager is absent from the municipality or is unable to perform his or her duties, if the council suspends the manager, or if there is a vacancy in the office of the manager, the council may appoint an acting manager to serve until the manager returns, or until his or her disability or suspension ceases, or until another manager is appointed. The council shall replace the acting manager with a permanent manager within a reasonable time, and in no case may anyone serve as acting manager for more than one year. A council member may serve as acting manager but first must resign from council. (Ord. 77-7 § 2 (part), 1977; Ord. 84-8, 1984; Ord. 86-8 § 1, 1986.)