National City Municipal Code Ch. 2.01 City Manager

A. The office of city manager is established. The city manager shall be appointed by the city council solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications, and shall hold office during the pleasure of the city council. No person elected to membership on the city council shall, subsequent to such election, be eligible for appointment as city manager until one year has elapsed following the expiration of the last term for which he was elected.

B. During the absence or disability of the city manager the council may designate some properly qualified person to perform the duties of the office of city manager.

(Ord. 782 § 1, 1950)

The city manager shall be the administrative head of the city government under the direction and control of the council, except as otherwise provided by ordinance. The city manager shall be responsible to the city council for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the city which are under the city manager's control. In addition to the city manager's general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be the duty and the city manager shall have power:

A. To see that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced;

B. To employ, discipline or remove all heads of departments and all subordinate officers and employees of the city, to transfer employees from one department to another; and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments, or units under the city manager's jurisdiction with the approval of the city council in each instance. Nothing contained in this chapter shall apply, however, to the city clerk, city attorney, or city treasurer;

C. To exercise control over all departments and divisions of the city government and over all appointive officers and employees thereof subject to the approval of the city council, except as provided in this chapter;

D. To attend all meetings of the council and its committees unless excused therefrom by the council or the committee and except when the removal of the city manager is under consideration by the council;

E. To recommend to the council for adoption such measures and ordinances are deemed necessary or expedient;

F. To keep the city council at all times advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the city;

G. To prepare and submit to the city council the annual budget;

H. To prepare and recommend to the city council a salary plan;

I. To purchase all supplies for all of the departments or divisions, and no expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the city council, except from report or approval of the city manager. The city manager may delegate the provisions of this subsection;

J. To make investigations into the affairs of the city or any department or division thereof or any contract, or the proper performance of any obligation running to the city;

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

L. To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, streets and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council;

M. To prepare and submit to the city council an organization chart showing the organization plan for all departments of the city government;

N. To issue on behalf of the council all licenses and permits not otherwise provided for by ordinance;

O. To superintend the construction of all public work within the city;

P. To develop and organize accessory public improvement projects and assist the city council and the various departments in carrying the same through to successful conclusion;

Q. To serve as public relations officer of the city government and to follow through and endeavor to adjust all just complaints filed against any employee, department, division, or service thereof;

R. To make and keep up to date an inventory of all property, real and personal, owned by the city;

S. To receive and open all mail addressed to the city council and give immediate attention thereto to the end that all administrative business referred to in such communications and not necessarily requiring councilmanic action, may be disposed of between council meetings; providing that all actions taken pursuant to such communications shall be reported to the city council at its next meeting thereafter;

T. To approve, execute and issue all contracts and agreements or amendments thereto in an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars, except as otherwise provided by ordinance or resolution, and to delegate that authority;

U. To reject claims and demands against the city and, with the concurrence of the city attorney to approve, settle or compromise such claims and demands in amounts not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars except for the settlement of workers' compensation settlements provided for in this chapter;

V. To approve change orders for previously authorized procurements of supplies and equipment, professional services agreements and public works contracts in amounts not exceeding an aggregate of twenty-five percent over the original authorized contract price or fifty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, without prior city council approval, and to delegate such authority;

W. To serve as executive director and secretary of the community development commission of the City of National City, and to delegate that authority;

X. To approve, settle, or compromise workers' compensation awards, and to delegate that authority, as follows: (i) in amounts not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars for discretionary comprise and release settlements and discretionary stipulations with request for awards; (ii) in amounts not to exceed fifty thousand dollars for non-discretionary compromise and release settlements; and (iii) all non-discretionary stipulations with request for awards.

(Ord. 2288, 2006; Ord. 2281, 2006; Ord. 2263, 2005: Ord. 1479 (part), 1975; Ord. 885 § 1, 1955: Ord. 782 § 2, 1950)

(Ord. No. 2010-2333, 3-16-2010; Ord. No. 2015-2406, 9-15-2015)

Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any of the subordinates of the city manager.

(Ord. 885 § 2, 1955: Ord. 782 § 3, 1950)

The city manager shall receive such salary as the city council shall from time to time determine and fix by resolution or motion.

(Ord. 782 § 4, 1950)