Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Manager

The City Manager form of government for the City is hereby adopted.

(§ 1 (a), Ord. 579)

The City Manager shall be appointed by the Council solely on the basis of his/her executive and administrative qualifications, and shall hold office as an at will employee at the pleasure of the Council. No Councilmember shall be eligible for appointment as City Manager for one year following the date his or her term has expired.

(§ 1 (a), Ord. 579. as amended by § 1, Ord. 14-0002, eff. April 4, 2014)

By majority vote of the full Council, the Council may terminate the employment of the City Manager and remove him or her from office at any time. In the event of such termination of employment or removal from office, the Council shall promptly consider the appointment of a successor City Manager and shall make actual appointment of such successor within a reasonable time, exercising due diligence in that regard.

(§ 1 (b), Ord. 579, as amended by § 1, Ord. 14-0002, eff. April 4, 2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 14-0002, § 1, adopted March 4, 2014, repealed § 2.04.040, which pertained to notice of removal and derived from Ord. No. 579.

During the absence, suspension or disability of the City Manager, the Council shall designate some properly qualified person to perform the duties of the office of the City Manager. The motion or resolution designating such person shall fix the compensation, if any, of the person so designated.

(§ 1 (d), Ord. 579)

The City Manager shall furnish a surety company bond for the faithful performance of his duties, to be approved by the Council, in such sum as may be determined by the Council. The premium for such bond shall be paid by the City.

(§ 1 (e), Ord. 579)

The City Manager shall be the administrative head of the City government under the direction and control of the Council. He shall be responsible to the Council for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the City which are under his control. In addition to his general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be the duty of the City Manager and he shall have power to:

A. See that all laws and ordinances are properly enforced within the City;

B. Appoint, discipline and dismiss the Chief of Police, all heads of departments, and all subordinate officers and employees of the City, except the City Attorney and the City Treasurer; transfer employees from one department to another; and consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under his or her jurisdiction;

C. Exercise control over all departments and divisions of the City government and over all appointive officers and employees thereof;

D. Attend all meetings of the Council and its committees unless excused therefrom by the Council, except when his removal is under consideration by the Council;

E. Recommend to the Council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he deems necessary or expedient;

F. Keep the Council fully advised at all times as to the financial condition and needs of the City;

G. Prepare and submit to the Council the annual budget;

H. Prepare and recommend to the Council a salary plan;

I. Purchase all supplies for all departments or divisions of the City; no expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the Council except upon report of approval of the City Manager;

J. Make investigations into the affairs of the City and any department or division thereof, and any contract, or the proper performance of any obligation running to the City;

K. Investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the government of the City and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in the City and see that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the City are faithfully observed;

L. Exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the Council;

M. Devote his entire working time to the duties and interests of the City; and

N. Perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the Council.

(§ 2, Ord. 579, as amended by § 2, Ord. 1955, eff. October 3, 1996)

Council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the City only through the City Manager, except for the purposes of inquiry. Neither the Council nor any member thereof shall demand the appointment of any person to, or exercise their influence in the appointment of any person or his removal from office by the City Manager or by any of his subordinates, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers and employees in the administrative service of the City, other than by suggestions to the City Manager. The Council, nor any member thereof, shall not give orders to any subordinate of the City Manager either publicly or privately.

(§ 3, Ord. 579)

There is hereby retained by and to the Council the sole power of being the policy making and legislative body for the City, and the duties and powers of the City Manager are expressly confined to the administrative service of the City.

(§ 4, Ord. 579)

The City Manager shall receive such salary as the Council shall determine and fix by resolution from time to time; provided, however, that the minimum amount of such salary shall not be less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) per month.

(§ 5, Ord. 579)

Appointments to municipal service and suspensions and dismissals therefrom shall be made in accordance with civil service rules and regulations. The City Manager shall have full power and authority to take action in administrative matters relating to municipal officers and personnel as is delegated by the provisions of this chapter or committed to him, subject to the procedures provided under the civil service system.

(§ 9, Ord. 579)