Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Manager

The office of city manager is created and established. The city manager shall be appointed by the city council solely on the basis of his/her executive and administrative qualifications and ability, and shall hold office at and during the pleasure of the city council.

(Prior code § 2200.)

Residence in the city at the time of appointment shall not be required as a condition of appointment.

No person elected to membership on the city council shall, subsequent to such election, be eligible for appointment as city manager until one year has elapsed after he/she has ceased to be member of the city council.

(Prior code § 2201.)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1034, § 1, adopted May 27, 2007, repealed § 2.04.030, which pertained to "bond." See also the Code Comparative Table and Disposition List.

The city manager shall appoint, subject to the approval of the city council, one of the other officers or department heads of the city to serve as manager pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the city manager. In case of the absence or disability of the city manager and his/her failure to so appoint a manager pro tempore, the city council may designate some duly qualified person to perform the duties of the city manager, during the period of absence or disability of the city manager; subject, however, to the person furnishing a corporate surety bond conditioned on faithful performance of the duties required to be performed, as set forth in this chapter.

(Prior code § 2203.)

The city manager shall receive such compensation as the city council shall from time to time determine and fix by resolution, and the compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the city council shall designate.

The city manager shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him/her in the performance of his/her duties, or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city under direction of the city council; reimbursement shall only be made, however, when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented to the city council, and duly approved and allowed by the city council.

(Prior code § 2204.)

The city manager shall be the administrative head of the city government 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 city affairs under the city manager's control. In addition to the general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be the city manager's duty and the city manager shall have the power:

A. To see that all laws and ordinances of the city are duly enforced, and that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully observed;

B. To control, order and give direction to all heads of departments, subordinate officers and employees of the city, except the city attorney; and to transfer employees from one department to another; and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under the city manager's direction; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to supersede the authority of the civil service or personnel system of the city in the manner of classification of city officers or employees;

C. To appoint, promote, demote and remove any officers and employees of the city except the city attorney, subject to the civil service personnel merit system of the city, if any; the appointment, promotion, demotion or removal of the city clerk and the city treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the city council;

D. To exercise control over all departments of the city government and over all appointive officers and employees thereof, except the city attorney;

E. To attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom by the council, except when the council considers the city manager's removal;

F. To recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as deemed necessary or expedient;

G. To keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the city's financial conditions and needs;

H. To prepare and submit to the city council the annual budget;

I. To purchase or acquire in any lawful manner all property, equipment, services, materials and supplies for the city and for all departments and divisions thereof; provided the purchase or acquisition thereof is approved by the city council or is included in a budget approved and adopted by the city council. No expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the city council except on report or approval of the city manager;

J. To sign contracts on behalf of the city as directed by the city council or as necessary to fulfill the city manager's purchasing duties under this code;

K. 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 running to the city;

L. To investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the city government and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in the city, and to see that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully performed and observed;

M. To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council and not specifically delegated to a particular board or officer;

N. To devote the city manager's entire time to the duties of the city manager's office and the city's interest;

O. To provide leadership for civic movements designed to benefit the residents of the city when so authorized by the city council;

P. To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated from time to time by city council ordinance or resolution.

(Ord. 943 § 2, 2002: Ord. 508 § 1, 1981; prior code § 2205.)

A. The exercise of the powers and duties of the city manager set out in this chapter, and the provisions of this chapter, shall be subject to this code and to any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this code as to classification of employees, the appointment, transfer, promotion, demotion, removal, suspension, dismissal and reinstatement of such employees and the procedures outlined therein governing the same.

B. The city manager shall be the appointing power under the terms of this code.

(Prior code § 2206.)

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 members thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the city manager.

(Prior code § 2207.)

A. The removal of the city manager shall be only on a majority vote of the whole council; subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.04.100. In case of his/her intended removal by the council, the city manager shall be furnished with a written notice stating the council's intention to remove him/her and the reasons therefor, at least thirty days before the effective date of his/her removal.

B. Within seven days after the delivery to the city manager of such notice, he/she may by written notification to the city clerk, request a public hearing before the council. Thereafter, the council shall fix a time for the public hearing which shall be held at its usual meeting place, but before the expiration of the thirty-day period, and at which the city manager shall appear and be heard.

C. After furnishing the city manager with written notice of intended removal, the city council may suspend him/her from duty, but his/her compensation shall continue until his/her removal by resolution of the council passed subsequent to the public hearing set out in subsection B.

D. In removing the city manager, the city council shall use its uncontrolled discretion and its action shall be final and shall not depend upon any particular showing or degree of proof at the hearing; the purpose of which is to allow the city manager to publicly present to the city council his/her grounds of opposition to removal prior to its action.

(Prior code § 2208.)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.04.090, the city manager shall not be removed from office during or within a period of ninety days next succeeding any general municipal election held in the city at which election a member of the city council is elected; the purpose of this provision is to allow any newly elected member to the city council or a reorganized city council to observe the actions and ability of the city manager in the performance of the powers and duties of his/her office. After the expiration of the ninety-day period, the provisions of Section 2.04.090 as to the removal of the manager shall apply and be effective.

(Prior code § 2209.)

The office of the city manager is specifically excluded from the personnel system of the city, and the city manager shall not be entitled to the benefits, advantages or protection of the personnel system of the city; and he/she shall not be subject to the procedures outlined or prevailing in the system.

(Prior code § 2210.)

The city council may, in its discretion, enter into a contract of employment with any person appointed to the position of city manager. If such a contract of employment provides for a method of termination by the city council for cause, the provisions of Section 2.04.090 shall not apply to the person holding the position of city manager which is subject to such a contract of employment.

(Ord. 929 § 1, 1999.)