Long Beach Municipal Code Art. III City Manager

The City Council shall appoint a City Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City. The City Manager shall be responsible for the administration of all departments except the City Attorney, City Auditor, City Prosecutor, City Clerk, Police Oversight, Legislative Department, Harbor Department and Public Utilities Department. The City Council, subject to veto by the Mayor and City Council override by a vote of two-thirds (⅔) of its members, shall appoint the person deemed best qualified on the basis of executive and administrative capabilities, with special reference to experience in, and knowledge of, accepted practices with respect to the duties of the office as set forth in this Charter. The City Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite period and cannot be removed from office except by a vote of five (5) members of the City Council, subject to veto by the Mayor and City Council override by a vote of two-thirds (⅔) of its members.

(Amended by Meas. JB, 11-5-2024; Amended by Meas. BB, 11-8-2022, eff. 1-23-2023; Amended by Prop. A, 5-1-2007, eff. 5-22-2007)

The City Manager shall have the power to appoint, with the confirmation of the City Council, subject to veto by the Mayor and City Council override by a vote of two-thirds (⅔) of its members, an Assistant City Manager, who shall be empowered to perform all duties of the City Manager in the event of the absence or disability of the City Manager and such other duties as the City Manager shall direct. The Assistant City Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager.

(Amended by Prop. A, 5-1-2007, eff. 5-22-2007)

The City Manager shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To direct and supervise the administration of all Manager-directed departments of the City.

(b) To appoint, suspend and remove all City employees in both the classified and unclassified service; except that for the classified service, such powers shall be pursuant to the Civil Service provisions of this Charter, Civil Service rules, regulations and ordinances; and except the City Clerk's Department and the elective officers and their appointees and such officers and employees as shall be subject to appointment by the City Council.

(c) To see that all laws, ordinances, orders, resolutions, contracts and franchises are enforced and executed.

(d) To attend all City Council meetings or councilmanic committee meetings; and to have the right to participate in the discussion without vote.

(e) To prepare and submit the annual budget; and to keep the City Council fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City, including the filing of an annual and interim financial reports.

(f) To submit such reports as the City Council may require concerning the operations of Manager-directed departments, and to recommend to City Council the adoption of measures deemed advisable.

(g) To perform such other duties as are specified in the Charter, by law or required by City Council.

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of the City Manager, the City Council shall proceed immediately to appoint a City Manager. Until a City Manager is appointed and has assumed the duties of the office, the Assistant City Manager shall be designated as Acting City Manager. He shall perform all of the duties of City Manager and be vested with all the powers of City Manager as set forth in this Charter. The Assistant City Manager shall continue in the position of Acting City Manager until a new City Manager has been appointed and has assumed the duties of that office.