Lompoc Municipal Code Ch. 2.12 City Manager

There is established the office of City Manager.

(Prior code § 0204; Ord. 1673(20) § 42)

The City Manager shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the City Council. He or she shall be chosen solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications. At the time of appointment, he or she need not be a resident of the City.

(Prior code § 0205; Ord. 1673(20) § 42)

Subject to policy and direction as prescribed by the City Council, the City Manager shall have the power and duty to:

A. Supervise the administrative affairs of the City;

B. Make such recommendations to the City Council concerning the affairs of the City as he or she may deem desirable or necessary, including the proposal of ordinances and resolutions he or she finds to be in the public interest or necessary for effective management;

C. Keep the City Council advised of the financial conditions and future needs of the City;

D. Ensure that this Code, the other ordinances, resolutions, and directives of the City Council, and the applicable laws of the State of California are enforced;

E. Appoint, discipline, and remove the City Clerk, the City Treasurer, and all officers and employees of the City under the jurisdiction of the City Manager. The City Manager also has authority to propose, negotiate and approve an employment contract for each at-will employee, subject to the number of positions and funding approved by the City Council;

F. Act as Personnel Officer for the City and its departments, divisions, and agencies;

G. Investigate the operations of City departments, divisions, and agencies, and the performance of the contracts to which the City is a party, to assure their proper performance;

H. Investigate complaints concerning utility operations and see that all permits, privileges, and franchises granted by the City are faithfully performed;

I. Represent the City in its intergovernmental relations and negotiate contracts for joint governmental actions, subject to City Council approval;

J. Exercise general supervision over all personal and real property under the control of the City;

K. Unless excused, attend and participate in all meetings of the City Council and those meetings of boards and commissions as he or she chooses or is directed to attend by the City Council;

L. Prescribe such general rules and regulations as he or she may deem necessary or expedient to the general conduct of the administrative departments under his or her jurisdiction;

M. Perform such other duties as prescribed by the City Council;

N. Devote full time to the duties of his or her office and to the interests of the City.

(Prior code § 0206; Ord. 1611(15) § 1; Ord. 1673(20) § 42)

The City Manager shall have jurisdiction over all departments, divisions, and agencies of the City except the Office of the City Attorney; provided, however, that when officers of those departments perform functions other than those assigned to the department by law, such additional functions shall be under the administrative direction of the City Manager. The heads of the administrative departments under the City Manager shall be directly responsible to him or her for the efficient administration of their respective departments. The City Manager may designate acting department heads when necessary to assure the continuity of the City's business.

(Prior code § 0207; Ord. 1613(15) § 4; Ord. 1673(20) § 42)

The City Manager, by filing written notice with the City Clerk, shall appoint a qualified City employee to serve as Acting City Manager to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the City Manager during his/her temporary absence or disability. The City Manager or City Clerk shall inform the City Council of the appointment. In the event the City Manager does not make such an appointment or the City Manager's absence or disability extends for longer than a continuous 30 day period, the City Council may appoint an assistant or deputy City Manager, department director, or other employee of the City to serve as Acting City Manager. The Acting City Manager shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the City Manager, for the duration of the appointment.

(Prior code § 0208; Ord. 1673(20) § 42; Ord. 1742(26), 2/17/2026)