Mountain View Municipal Code Art. VI City Manager

There shall be a city manager who shall be the chief administrative officer of the city. The city manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term by the council and shall serve at the pleasure of the council, provided that the city manager shall not be removed from office except by the affirmative votes of at least five members of the council. The city manager shall be chosen on the basis of the person's executive and administrative qualifications, with special reference to actual experience in, or knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of office as hereinafter set forth.

No councilmember shall be eligible for appointment to the office of city manager during the term for which that councilmember shall have been elected nor within two years thereafter.

(As amended June 3, 1980; November 2, 1993.)

The city manager shall be paid a salary commensurate with the city manager's responsibilities as chief administrative officer of the city, which salary shall be established by ordinance or resolution.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)

The city manager shall be head of the administrative branch of the city government. He shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. Without limiting the foregoing general grant of powers, responsibilities and duties, the city manager shall have power and be required to:

(a) Appoint, discipline and remove, subject to the personnel provisions of this Charter, all officers and employees of the city except as otherwise provided by this Charter. The city manager may authorize the head of any department or office to appoint or remove subordinates in such office.

(b) Prepare the budget annually, submit it to the council, and be responsible for its administration after its adoption.

(c) Prepare and submit to the council as of the end of the fiscal year, a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year.

(d) Keep the council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the city and make such recommendations on any matter as may to the city manager seem desirable.

(e) Establish a centralized purchasing system for all city offices, departments and agencies.

(f) Prepare rules and regulations governing the contracting for, purchasing, inspection, storing, inventory, distribution or disposal of all supplies, materials and equipment required by any office, department or agency of the city government and recommend them to the council for adoption by ordinance.

(g) Enforce the laws of the state pertaining to the city, the provisions of this Charter and the ordinances, franchises and rights of the city.

(h) Make investigations into the affairs of the city, or any department or division thereof, on any contract, or the proper performance of any obligation running to the city.

(i) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required of the city manager by the council not inconsistent with this Charter.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)

The city manager shall be accorded a seat at the council table and at all meetings of boards and commissions and shall be entitled to participate in their deliberations, but shall not have a vote. The city manager shall receive notice of all special meetings of the council, boards, and commissions.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)

The city manager may prescribe such general rules and regulations as the city manager may deem necessary or expedient for the general conduct of the administrative offices and departments of the city under the city manager's jurisdiction.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)

The city manager shall appoint, subject to the approval of the council, one of the other officers of the city to serve as manager pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the city manager.

Subject to the approval of the council, the city manager may act as head of any office, department or agency of the city under the city manager's control for which the city manager is qualified by training or experience.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)

Neither the council nor any of its members shall interfere with the execution by the city manager of the city manager's powers and duties, or order, directly or indirectly, the appointment by the city manager, or by any of the department heads in the administrative service of the city, of any person to any office or employment, or that person's removal therefrom. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager, either publicly or privately.

(As amended June 3, 1980.)