King City Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Manager

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

(Ord. 284 § 1, 1966)

Residence in the city at the time of appointment, shall not be required as a condition of appointment; provided, however, that within twelve months after the appointment of the city manager, he or she shall establish his or her residence within fifty-five travel miles from in the city, unless such time is extended by resolution of the city council. In no case may this extension exceed six months.

(Ord. 284 § 2, 1966; Ord. No. 836, 9/9/2025)

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

(Ord. 284 § 3, 1966)

The city manager shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be approved by the city council in such sum as may be determined by the city council and which shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the city manager as herein prescribed. Any premium for such bond shall be a proper charge against the city.

(Ord. 284 § 4, 1966)

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.

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 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 and approved by the city council.

(Ord. 284 § 5, 1966)

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 or she 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:

(1) To see that all laws and ordinances of the city are enforced and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council are faithfully observed;

(2) To control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city under his or her jurisdiction through their department heads;

(3) To appoint, remove, promote and demote any and all officers and employees of the city, except the city attorney, subject however, to any civil service or personnel system now or hereafter established by ordinance;

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

(5) To recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he or she deems necessary or expedient;

(6) To attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom;

(7) To keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city;

(8) To prepare and submit the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan to the city council for its approval;

(9) 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;

(10) 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;

(11) 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;

(12) 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;

(13) 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;

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

(Ord. 284 § 6, 1966; Ord. 712 § 1, 2014)

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

(Ord. 284 § 7, 1966)

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 or 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 sitting in a duly held meeting of the city council and no individual council member shall give orders or instructions to the city manager.

(Ord. 284 § 8, 1966)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and the city clerk, city treasurer, and 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.

(Ord. 284 § 9, 1966)

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

(Ord. 284 § 10, 1966)

In the event of the absence or disability of the city manager, he or she 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 during such period. In the event of such absence and disability and in the event of the failure of the city manager to so designate a 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.

(Ord. 284 § 11, 1966)

The city manager shall be appointed by the council and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the council. The employment is at will. Removal of the city manager shall be only by a vote of at least three members of the council and shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1) At any meeting where the question of retention or removal of the city manager is considered, the city manager may, but is not required to, have the right to present such evidence in his or her own behalf as he or she may desire; but the council shall use its uncontrolled discretion in making the decision, and its action shall be final and shall not depend on any particular showing or degree of proof.

(2) The city manager shall notify the council at least sixty days in advance of intended resignation. Failure to do so may be grounds for withholding any payments due him or her for services. This provision may be waived by a majority vote of council.

(Ord. 284 § 12, 1966; Ord. 663 § 1, 2006)