Carpinteria Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Manager

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For statutory provisions on the city manager form of government, see Gov. Code §§ 34851—34859.

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 administrative and executive ability and qualifications and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the city council.

(Prior code § 2203)

No person elected as a councilman of the city shall, subsequent to election, be eligible for appointment as city manager until two years have elapsed after such councilmember shall have ceased to be a member of the city council.

(Prior code § 2205)

Residence in the city shall not be required as a condition of appointment, but the city manager shall establish residence within 30 miles of the city within 180 days of appointment unless, by resolution, the city council establishes a different reasonable and specific distance from the city and/or time period to establish residency. Thereafter, the city manager shall maintain a residence within the specified distance.

(Ord. No. 772, § 2, 11-27-2023)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 772, § 2, adopted Nov. 27, 2023, amended § 2.08.030 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 2.08.030, pertained to residency requirements, and derived from prior code § 2204.

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

B. The city manager shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him in the performance of his 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 such business for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented to the city council for approval.

(Prior code § 2206)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to devote his entire time to the duties of his office in the interests of the city.

(Prior code § 2208)

In the event of the absence or disability of the city manager, he shall designate, subject to the approval of the city council, one of the other officers or department heads of the city to serve as city manager pro tempore. The council may designate some duly qualified person to perform the duties of the city manager during the period of absence or disability.

(Prior code § 2212)

Pursuant to the employment of the city manager, the city council and the city manager shall enter into an agreement, in writing, agreeable to both parties which shall set forth the conditions of employment; provided, however, that such agreement shall not be contrary to those stipulations established in this chapter. The removal of the city manager shall be only upon a three member vote of the whole council, and the decision shall be final.

(Prior code § 2213; Ord. No. 772, § 3, 11-27-2023)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 772, § 4, adopted Nov. 27, 2023, repealed § 2.08.080, which pertained to removal—hearing and derived from prior code § 2214.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 772, § 4, adopted Nov. 27, 2023, repealed § 2.08.090, which pertained to removal—suspension pending hearing and derived from prior code § 2215.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 772, § 4, adopted Nov. 27, 2023, repealed § 2.08.100, which pertained to removal—discretion of council and derived from prior code § 2216.

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. He shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the city which are under his control. In addition to his general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his duty and he shall have the following powers:

A. To enforce all laws and ordinances and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council are faithfully observed;

B. To control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city under his jurisdiction through their department heads;

C. To appoint, remove, promote and demote any and all officers and employees of the city except the city attorney and city treasurer;

D. To recommend to the city council such reorganization of offices, positions, departments or units under his direction as may be indicated in the interest of efficient, effective and economical conduct of the city's business;

E. To recommend to the city for adoption such measures and ordinances as he deems necessary or expedient;

F. To attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom;

G. To keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city;

H. To prepare and submit the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan to the city council for its approval;

I. To be responsible for the purchase of all supplies for all of the departments or divisions of the city. No expenditures shall be submitted or recommended to the city council unless accompanied by a report of the city manager;

J. 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;

K. 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 and permits granted by the city are faithfully performed and observed;

L. To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and all other public property which is under the control and jurisdiction of the city council;

M. To serve ex officio as city clerk upon being specifically designated to do so by the city council, and upon such designation to faithfully execute the duties and responsibilities of such office;

N. To serve as finance and accounting officer of the city;

O. To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him from time to time by ordinance or resolution or other action of the city council.

(Prior code § 2207)

The city manager may attend any and all meetings of the planning commission and any other commissions, boards or committees hereafter created by the city council. At such meetings which the city manager attends, he shall be heard by such commissions, boards or committees as to all matters upon which he wishes to address the members thereof, and he shall inform such members as to the status of any matter being considered by the city council and he shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the members of all commissions, boards or committees appointed by the city council.

(Prior code § 2211)

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 order to any subordinates of the city manager. The city manager shall take his orders and instructions from the city council only when sitting in a duly held meeting of the city council and no individual councilman shall give orders or instructions to the city manager.

(Prior code § 2209)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and the city treasurer and the city attorney to assist the city manager in administering the affairs of the city efficiently, economically and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their duties as prescribed by law and ordinances of the city.

(Prior code § 2210)

A. The city manager or his/her designee may execute on behalf of the city any contract which has received prior approval of the city council.

B. The city manager or their designee shall be authorized to execute contracts of fifty thousand dollars or less in expenditure as well as one hundred thousand dollars or less in grant funding without prior approval of the city council where the amount of such contract is within a budgeted appropriation and does not require an additional match of city funds. The city manager or their designee may bring such contract to the city council for approval. Contracts exceeding fifty thousand dollars in expenditure and one hundred thousand dollars in grant funding shall be approved by the council prior to execution.

C. A list of contracts, if any, executed by the city manager and/or his/her designee pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be presented to the city council for their information via a subsequent report. The report shall be presented to the council no later than the calendar month following execution of the contract(s).

D. A warrant on the city treasury may be drawn, in any amount, if such warrant contains two of the signatures of the following city officers:

1. City manager;

2. Administrative services director;

3. City clerk;

4. Assistant city manager;

5. Finance manager.

E. No warrant shall be drawn on an account for which there is not an adequate remaining appropriation approved by the city council.

F. A list of warrants drawn on the city treasury executed pursuant to subsection D of this section shall be presented to the city council for their information via a subsequent report. The report shall be presented to the council no later than the calendar month following the drawing of the warrant(s).

G. The city clerk shall have the authority to sign all instruments requiring the city seal.

(Ord. 564 § 1, 2000)

(Ord. No. 653, § 3, 11-14-2011; Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-22-2024; Ord. No. 797, § 2, 5-26-2026)