Hollister Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Manager

The office of city manager is created. The city manager shall be appointed by the city council 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.

(Prior code § 2-26)

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 the affairs of the city which are under his or her control. In addition to the city manager's general authority as administrative head and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be the city manager's duty and he or she shall have the authority set forth in the following subsections:

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

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

C. To appoint, discipline and dismiss any and all officers and employees of the city except the city attorney and the city treasurer;

D. To attend all meetings of the city council, unless excused therefrom by the city council;

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

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

G. To prepare and submit to the city council the annual budget and to administer it after adoption;

H. To purchase or cause to be purchased all supplies for all of the departments or divisions of the city. No expenditures shall be submitted or recommended to the city council except on report and approval of the city manager;

I. To make investigation into the affairs of the city and any department or division thereof and any contract or the proper performance of any obligation running to the city;

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

K. To execute general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, streets and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council;

L. To perform the duties of and act as the tax collector of the city;

M. To devote his or her entire time to the duties and interests of the city;

N. To make reports and recommendations as may be desirable or as requested by the city council;

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

P. To receive and open all mail addressed to the city council;

Q. To appoint heads of departments, subject to the approval of the City Council;

R. To hire employees.

(Prior code § 2-31; Ord. 1215, 2022)

The city manager shall receive such compensation as the city council shall from time to time determine and fix by resolution and such 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 or her in the performance of his or her duties or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city under the direction of the city council. Reimbursement shall only be made, however, when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for which the reimbursement is requested, shall be presented to the city council and duly approved and allowed by the city council.

(Prior code § 2-30)

Before entering upon the duties of their offices or within five days next succeeding the day of passage of a resolution fixing the penal sum of their bonds, the city manager and the assistant city manager shall execute a bond to the city conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties imposed on them as prescribed in this chapter. The penal sum of the bonds shall be in a reasonable amount recommended by the city attorney and fixed by the city council, by resolution, and may be changed during their terms of office. The premiums for such bonds shall be a proper charge against the city.

(Prior code § 2-28)

No person elected or appointed as a councilmember of the city shall, subsequent to such election or appointment, be eligible for appointment as city manager until one year has elapsed after such city councilmember shall have ceased to be a member of the city council.

(Prior code § 2-27)

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 in a duly held meeting of the city council and no individual city councilmember shall give any orders or instructions to the City Manager.

(Prior code § 2-32)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers of the City Manager, the city attorney, the city clerk and the city treasurer, 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, this code and any other ordinances of the city.

(Prior code § 2-33)

The City Manager may attend any and all meetings of any commissions or boards created by the city council, upon his or her own volition or upon direction of the city council. At any such meetings at which the City Manager attends, he or she shall be heard by such commissions and boards as to all matters upon which the City Manager wishes to address the members thereof, and the City Manager shall inform such members as to the status of any matter being considered by the city council and he or she shall cooperate fully with the members of all commissions, boards or committees appointed by the city council.

(Prior code § 2-34)

The removal of the City Manager from office shall be only upon a three-member vote of the whole city council.

(Prior code § 2-35)