Huntington Park Municipal Code Art. 4 City Manager

There is hereby created and established in the unclassified service of the City, the position of City Manager.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The Council, by resolution or contract, shall appoint the person who shall serve as City Manager. The City Manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

No person shall be eligible to appointment as City Manager while serving as a member of the Council nor within two years after the end of such service.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The City Manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the City under the direction and control of the Council, except as otherwise provided in this section. 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 his or her general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his or her duty and he or she shall have the following powers:

(a) 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 Council are faithfully observed.

(b) 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 jurisdiction with the exception of the City Clerk, City Treasurer and City Attorney who are directly appointed and directed by the City Council, in the case of the City Attorney and directly elected in the case of the City Clerk and City Treasurer.

(c) Powers of Appointment and Removal. Subject to the rules and regulations for the administration of the personnel system of the City, it shall be the duty of the City Manager or designee to approve the appointment, transfer, promotion, demotion, reinstatement, layoff and suspension or dismissal of all City employees, and management personnel, and to report all such actions to the Council.

(d) 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 interests of the efficient, effective and economical conduct of the City's business and to effectuate such reorganization upon a majority vote of the Council.

(e) Ordinances. It shall be the duty of the City Manager, and he or she shall recommend to the Council for adoption, such measures, resolutions and ordinances as he or she deems necessary.

(f) Attendance at Council Meetings. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to attend all meetings of the Council unless he or she is excused therefrom by the Mayor individually or the Council.

(g) Financial Reports. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City and, at the end of each fiscal year, present a complete report to the Council on the finances and administrative activities of the City.

(h) Budget. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to prepare and submit the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan to the Council for its approval.

(i) Expenditure Control and Purchasing. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to see that no expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the Council, except on the approval of the City Manager or authorized representative. The City Manager, or authorized representative, shall be responsible for the purchase of all supplies for all the departments or divisions of the City. Further, it shall be the duty of the City Manager to establish a centralized purchasing system for all City officers, departments and agencies.

(j) 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 obligation of the City. Further it shall be the duty of the City Manager to investigate all complaints in relation to the matters concerning the administration of the City government and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in the City.

(k) 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 is under the control and jurisdiction of the Council.

(l) Additional Duties. It shall be the duty of the City Manager to perform such other duties and exercise such other resolution or other official action of the Council.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 2017-956, eff. March 9, 2017; Ord. 2024-06, 12/2/2024)

Residence in the City at the time of the appointment of the City Manager or at any time thereafter shall not be required as a condition of the appointment or continued employment with the City.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The City Manager may be required, at council discretion, to furnish a corporate surety bond, to be approved by the Council, in such sum as may be determined by the Council, and such bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the City Manager as prescribed in this article. Any premium for such bond shall be a proper charge against the City.

(§ 3 Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The City Manager shall receive such compensation, as the Council shall from time to time determine.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The City Manager shall act as the agent for the Council in the discharge of its administrative functions but shall not exercise any policy-making or legislative functions whatsoever nor attempt to commit or bind the Council, or any member thereof, to any action, plan or program requiring official action by the Council.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The City Manager, in the discharge of his or her duties, shall endeavor at all times exercise the highest degree of tact, patience and courtesy in his or her contacts with the public and with all City commissions, boards, departments, officers and employees. He or she shall use his or her best efforts to establish and maintain a harmonious relationship between all personnel employed in the City government to the end that the highest possible standards of public service be continuously maintained.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

The 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 Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of, or departments under, the jurisdiction of the City Manager. The City Manager shall take his or her orders and instructions from the Council only when sitting in a duly held meeting of the Council, and no individual Councilmember shall give, or attempt to give, any orders or instructions to the City Manager.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and the City Clerk, City Treasurer, City Attorney and City Prosecutor to make the facilities and services of their offices available to the City Manager and to cooperate with and assist him or her in administering the affairs of the City most efficiently, economically and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their duties as prescribed by the laws and regulations of the City.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

At least annually, the Council shall review the City Manager's performance.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

(a) Majority Vote of Council. The removal of the City Manager shall only be on a majority vote of the entire Council.

(b) Suspension by Resolution: Compensation. In the event of his or intended removal by the Council, the City Manager shall be furnished with a resolution duly adopted at least 30 days before the effective date of the intended removal stated in the resolution, and by such resolution the Council may suspend him or her from duty; provided, however, his or her compensation shall continue until his or her removal by resolution of the Council.

(c) Hearings. Within seven days after the delivery to the City Manager of the notice of his or her intended removal, he or she may, by written notification to the City Clerk, request a public hearing before the Council. Thereupon the Council shall fix a time for the public hearing, which shall be held at the usual meeting place of the Council before the expiration of the 30 day period al which the City Manager shall appear and be heard.

(d) Council Action. In removing the City Manager, the 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 such hearing shall be to permit the City Manager to publicly present to the Council his or her grounds of opposition to removal prior to the action of the Council.

(e) Compensation. Upon his or her removal, the City Manager shall be paid pursuant to the terms of his or her contract with the City.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-3.414 of this article, the City Manager shall not be removed from office during, or within a period of 90 days next succeeding, or within 60 days prior to any general or special municipal election held in the City, at which election a member of the Council is elected. The purpose of this provision is to permit a newly-elected to the Council, or a reorganized Council, to observe the actions and ability of the City Manager in the performance of the powers and duties of his or her office. After the expiration of such 90 day period, the provisions of Section 2-3.414 of this article relating to the removal of the City Manager shall apply and be effective.

(§ 3, Ord. 661-NS, eff. July 18, 2001)