Chapter 2.08 CITY MANAGER

The office of the city manager of the city is created and established. The city manager shall be appointed by the city council wholly on the basis of his or her administrative and executive ability and qualifications and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the city council. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 1, 1968)

2.08.020 Residence.

Residence in the city at the time of appointment of a city manager shall not be required as a condition of the appointment, but within one hundred eighty days thereafter the city manager must become a resident of the county of Santa Cruz. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 2, 1968)

2.08.030 Council member eligibility.

No member of the city council shall be eligible for appointment as city manager until one year has elapsed after such council member has ceased to be a member of the city council. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 3, 1968)

2.08.040 Bond. Revised 2/24

Repealed by Ord. 1064. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 4, 1968)

2.08.050 Acting city manager.

The assistant city manager shall serve as manager pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the city manager. In the event there is no assistant city manager, the city manager, by a letter filed with the city clerk, shall designate a qualified city administrative officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties of manager during his or her temporary absence or disability. In the event the city manager’s absence or disability extends over a six-month period, the city council may, after the six-month period, appoint an acting city manager. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 5, 1968)

2.08.060 Compensation.

The city manager shall receive such compensation and expense allowances as the city council from time to time determines, and said compensation and expenses shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the city council designates.

In addition, the city manager shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred by him or her in the performance of his or her official duties, including those incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city; reimbursement shall only be made, however, when an itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for such business for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented to and approved by the mayor. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 6, 1968)

2.08.065 Exemption from civil service.

The city manager is excluded from civil service or personnel system of the city, and the city manager shall not be entitled to the benefits, advantages or protection of the civil service or personnel system and shall not be subject to the procedures outlined or prevailing to such system. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014)

2.08.070 Powers and duties.

The city manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the city under the direction and control of the city council except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The city manager shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the city which are under his or her control. In addition to these general powers and administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his or her duty and he or she shall have the powers set forth in Sections 2.08.080 through 2.08.200. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7, 1968)

2.08.080 Law enforcement.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to enforce all laws and ordinances of the city and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council are faithfully observed. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.1, 1968)

2.08.090 Authority over employees.

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall have the authority to control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city under his or her jurisdiction through their department heads. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.2, 1968)

2.08.100 Power of appointment and removal.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to, and he or she shall, appoint, remove, promote and demote any and all officers and employees of the city except the city attorney subject to all applicable personnel ordinances, rules and regulations. (Ord. 1028 § 2, 2019: Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.3, 1968)

2.08.110 Administrative reorganization of officers.

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the city manager to conduct studies and effect such administrative reorganization of offices, positions or units under his or her direction as may be indicated in the interest of efficient, effective and economical conduct of the city’s business. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.4, 1968)

2.08.120 Ordinances.

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he or she deems necessary. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.5, 1968)

2.08.130 Attendance at council meetings.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom by the mayor individually or city council as a whole, except when his or her removal is under consideration. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.6, 1968)

2.08.140 Financial reports.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.7, 1968)

2.08.150 Budget.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to prepare and submit the proposed annual budget to the city council for its approval. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.8, 1968)

2.08.160 Purchasing agent.

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall be responsible for the purchase of all supplies and services for all the departments or divisions of the city in accordance with city purchasing policy. The city manager shall make no purchase exceeding fifty thousand dollars* without prior city council approval. No expenditures shall be submitted or recommended to the city council except on report and approval of the city manager. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.9, 1968)

* Code reviser’s note: The purchase limit listed herein has been updated to correspond to the amendments of Ordinance 1063, which increased the limit to fifty thousand dollars.

2.08.170 Investigations and complaints.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to make investigations into the affairs of the city and any department or division thereof, and any contract or the proper performance of any obligations of the city. Further, it shall be the duty of the city manager to investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the city government in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in the city. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.10, 1968)

2.08.180 Public buildings.

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and all other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.11, 1968)

2.08.190 Hours of employment.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to devote his or her entire time to the duties of his or her office and in furthering the interests of the city. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.12, 1968)

2.08.200 Additional duties.

It shall be the duty of the city manager to perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him or her from time to time by ordinance or resolution or other official action of the city council. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 7.13, 1968)

2.08.210 Internal relations with council.

The city council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the city only through the city manager, except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the city manager. The city manager shall take his or her orders and instructions from the city council only when sitting in a duly convened meeting of the city council and no individual councilmember shall give any orders or instructions to the city manager. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 8, 1968)

2.08.220 Departmental cooperation.

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and the city treasurer and city attorney to assist the city manager in administering the affairs of the city efficiently, economically and harmoniously. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 8.1, 1968)

2.08.230 Attendance at commission meetings. Revised 2/24

The city manager may attend any and all meetings of the planning commission, and any other commissions, boards or committees created by the city council, upon his or her own volition or upon direction of the city council. At such meetings which the city manager attends, he or she shall be heard by such commissions, boards or committees as to all matters upon which he or she wishes to address the members thereof, and he or she shall inform said members as to the status of any matter being considered by the city council, and he or she shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the members of all commissions, boards or committees appointed by the city council. (Ord. 1064 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 308 § 8.2, 1968)

2.08.240 At-will employment.

The city manager shall be an at-will employee, who may be removed from office, or his or her authority temporarily suspended, at the sole discretion of the majority vote of the whole city council, subject to any such restrictions as are specifically set forth in the city manager’s contract of employment. (Ord. 990 § 1 (part), 2014: Ord. 818 § 1, 2000; Ord. 308 § 9, 1968)