Murrieta Municipal Code Ch. 2.68 Personnel System

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a system for the employment of personnel of the city.

(Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.010)

The city manager shall be the personnel officer within the scope of his or her powers and duties as defined in this title. The personnel officer may delegate any of the powers and duties conferred upon him or her as personnel officer under this chapter to any other officer or employee of the city. The personnel officer shall:

A. Administer all the provisions of this chapter and of the personnel rules not specifically reserved to the city council;

B. Prepare and recommend to the city council personnel rules and revisions and amendments to such rules;

C. Prepare or cause to be prepared a position classification plan, including class specifications, and revisions of the plan. The plan, and any revisions thereof, shall become effective upon approval by the city council.

(Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.020)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all offices, positions and employments in the service of the city, except:

A. The city manager;

B. Elective officer;

C. Members of appointive boards;

D. Persons engaged under contract to supply expert, professional, technical or any other services;

E. Volunteer personnel, such as police reserves;

F. City attorney;

G. Emergency employees who are hired to meet the immediate requirements of an emergency condition, such as extraordinary fire, flood, or earthquake which threatens life or property;

H. Employees, other than those listed elsewhere in this section, who are not regularly employed.

(Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.030)

Personnel rules and regulations shall be adopted by the city council. Amendments and revisions may be recommended by the city manager and shall be processed as provided in the personnel rules.

(Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.040)

A. Appointments to vacant positions shall be made in accordance with the personnel rules. Appointments and promotions shall be based on merit and fitness. Examinations may be used and conducted to aid in the selection of qualified employees and may consist of achievement and aptitude tests, written tests, personal interviews, performance tests, physical agility tests, evaluation of daily work performance, work samples or any combinations of these or other tests. Physical, medical and psychological tests designed to measure job related abilities may be given as part of any examination.

B. In any examination the personnel officer may include, in addition to competitive tests, a qualifying test or test, and set minimum standards therefor.

(Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.050)

All appointments, including promotional appointments, shall be at the will of the city manager and subject to termination by the city manager, in his or her sole discretion and at his or her pleasure, without any right of appeal, hearing or review by any other person or body. Upon such termination, which can occur at any time, the employee has no further rights or claims of any kind against the city, the city manager or any other officers, employees, agents or representatives of the city. (Ord. 24 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 2.60.060)