La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 2.16 City Manager

The office of city manager of the city of La Mesa is hereby created and established.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

The city manager shall be appointed by the council wholly on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications and ability and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the city council.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

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

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

The city manager shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be approved by the council in such sum as may be determined by the council and 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 of La Mesa.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

The assistant city manager shall perform the duties of the city manager, and act as manager pro tem during any period of temporary absence or disability of the city manager, or when the office of the city manager may become vacant, subject, however, to said person furnishing a corporate surety bond as may be required by the city council, conditioned upon the faithful performance of said duties.

(Ord. 2285; March 11, 1982)

The city manager shall receive such compensation and allowances as the council shall from time to time determine and fix in the annual budget.

(Ord. 1955; August 14, 1973)

The city manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the city under the direction and control of the council.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

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 authority set forth in the following sections.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

He shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all affairs of the city which are under his control.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, to see that all laws and ordinances of the city are enforced, and that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully observed.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, 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 running to the city.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, 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 said city, and to see that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully performed and observed.

(Ord. 862; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, to control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city through their department head; to transfer employees from one department to another; and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under his direction.

(Ord. 862 § 8; December 10, 1957)

(a) The city manager shall be authorized to appoint, remove, promote and demote all officers and employees of the city of La Mesa, except the city attorney and assistant city attorney, subject to the provisions of Chapter 3.08 of the code pertaining to the personnel appeals board.

(b) All employees categorized as department heads and division managers of the city of La Mesa hired on or after the effective date of this section shall serve at the pleasure of the city manager.

(c) The city manager shall be authorized to appoint, remove, promote and demote all department heads and division managers of the city of La Mesa hired on or after the effective date of this section.

(d) The following department heads and division managers are established, each of which shall have the duties, responsibilities and authority necessary for the performance of the position:

Department heads:

(1) Assistant city manager;

(2) City clerk;

(3) Deputy fire chief;

(4) Director of administrative services;

(5) Director of community development;

(6) Director of parks and recreation;

(7) Director of finance;

(8) Director of public works;

(9) Director of public works/city engineer;

(10) Fire chief;

(11) Police chief.

Division managers:

(1) Assistant director of community development;

(2) Assistant director of public works;

(3) Assistant to the city manager;

(4) Building official;

(5) Communications manager;

(6) Parks and recreation manager;

(7) Engineering project manager;

(8) Finance manager;

(9) Fire division chief;

(10) Fire marshal;

(11) Human resources manager;

(12) Information technology manager;

(13) Police captain;

(14) Risk manager;

(15) Senior planner.

(Ord. 862 § 9, as amended by Ord. 1274 and Ord. 1525; January 11, 1966: Ord. 2014-2835, § 1; November 25, 2014; Ord. No. 2021-2891, § 1, October 12, 2021; Ord. 2025-2919, § 3, July 22, 2025)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, to exercise control over all departments of government of the city and over all appointive officers and employees thereof.

(Ord. 862 § 10; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to attend all the meetings of the city council of the city unless excused therefrom by the council or mayor, except when his removal is under consideration by the council.

(Ord. 862 § 11; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he deems necessary or expedient.

(Ord. 862 § 12; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city.

(Ord. 862 § 13; December 10, 1957)

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 city council for its approval.

(Ord. 862 § 14; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, to purchase all supplies for all of the departments or divisions of the city.

(Ord. 862 § 15 (part); December 10, 1957)

No expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the city council except on report or approval of the city manager.

(Ord. 862 § 15 (part); December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager, and he shall have the authority, to exercise general supervision over all public buildings, parks and all other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the council.

(Ord. 862 § 18; December 10, 1957)

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

(Ord. 862 § 19; December 10, 1957)

It shall be the duty of the city manager 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 council.

(Ord. 862 § 20; December 10, 1957)

The city council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the city only through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to restrict in any manner oral communications between a member of the city council and any employee of the city.

(Ord. 862 § 21, as amended by Ord. 1218; February 28, 1961)

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

(Ord. 862 § 22; December 10, 1957)

The city manager may attend all meetings of the planning commission, recreation-park commission, parking commission, and any other commissions or board heretofore or hereafter created by the council, upon direction of the council. At any such meeting at which the city manager attends, he shall be heard by such commissions and boards as to all matters upon which he wishes to address them.

(Ord. 862 § 23; December 10, 1957)

The removal of the city manager shall be only upon a majority vote of the whole council.

(Ord. 862 § 24 (part); December 10, 1957)

In case of his intended removal by the council, the city manager shall be furnished with a written notice from the mayor stating the council's decision to remove him.

(Ord. 862 § 24 (part); December 10, 1957)

In removing the city manager, the council shall use its uncontrolled discretion, and its action shall be final.

(Ord. 862 § 24 (part); December 10, 1957)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter hereinbefore enumerated, the city manager shall not be removed from office during or within a period of one hundred eighty days from the date that a person is sworn into office as a new councilmember following any general municipal election held in the city at which election a member of the council is elected or his or her appointment as a new councilmember. The purpose of this provision is to allow any newly elected or appointed member of 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.

(Ord. 862 § 25; December 10, 1957: Ord. 2507 § 1; September 27, 1988: Ord. 2554 § 1; March 13, 1990)