East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 2.24 Community Relations Officer

The position of community relations officer of the city is created. The city manager or the city council appoints the community relations officer and such person serves at the pleasure of the council.

(Prior code § 2-3.401)

A member of the city council is not eligible for appointment as community relations officer until one year elapses after the councilmember ceases to be a member of the council.

(Prior code § 2-3.402)

The community relations officer is entitled to such compensation as the city council determines from time to time.

(Prior code § 2-3.403)

The community relations officer is responsible for all official information releases and community relations activities of the city, subject to the direction and control of the city council. In addition to his/her general responsibilities and not as a limitation on them, the community relations officer shall:

A. Serve as editor of the city's periodic newsletter and ensure that it is distributed to every household in the city;

B. Coordinate outreach activities for the city council in various homes and neighborhoods of the city;

C. Coordinate outreach activities for the city council with community organizations and service agencies in the city;

D. Coordinate, in association with the city manager, activities of community and student volunteers;

E. Handle all media relations for the city;

F. Conduct all community oriented special events scheduled by the city council; and

G. Carry out other special assignments of the city council.

(Prior code § 2-3.404)

The community relations officer shall take his/her orders and instructions from the council when the council is sitting in a duly convened meeting and no individual councilmember shall give orders or instructions to the community relations officer.

(Prior code § 2-3.405)

The community relations officer may be removed by the city manager or a majority vote of the whole city council as then constituted, convened in a regular council meeting. In case of his/her intended removal, the council shall furnish the community relations officer with a written notice stating the council's intention to remove him/her at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of his/her removal. If the community relations officer so requests, the council shall provide in writing reasons for removal. The council shall provide the community relations officer with these written reasons within seven days after the receipt of a request from the community relations officer. The community relations officer shall make his/her request for the reasons in writing at least fifteen (15) days before the effective date of his/her removal.

(Prior code § 2-3.406)

Within five days after the delivery to the community relations officer of the notice of intention to remove, the community relations officer may request a hearing before the council by filing written notice with the city clerk. Thereafter, the council shall fix a time for the hearing. The council shall hold the hearing at its usual meeting place, before the effective date of the intended removal. At the hearing the community relations officer may appear and be heard with or without counsel. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the community relations officer to present to the council his/her grounds of opposition to his/her removal before the council acts.

(Prior code § 2-3.407)

In removing the community relations officer, the council has absolute discretion and action is final and conclusive and does not depend upon any particular showing or degree of proof at the hearing.

(Prior code § 2-3.408)

Notwithstanding Sections 2.24.060 through 2.24.080, the community relations officer may not be removed from the office, other than for misconduct in office, during the period of ninety days following:

A. A general municipal election held in the city at which a member of the city council is elected; or

B. The time when a new city manager or city councilmember is appointed.

The purpose of this section is to allow a new city manager or each newly elected or appointed member of the council or a reorganized council to observe the actions and ability of the community relations officer in the performance of the powers and duties of his office.

(Prior code § 2-3.409)

Sections 2.24.010 through 2.24.090 are not a limitation on the power or authority of the city council to enter into a supplemental agreement with the community relations officer delineating additional terms and conditions of employment not inconsistent with those sections.

(Prior code § 2-3.410)