Oakland Municipal Code Art. V The City Manager

Section 500. Appointment.

The Mayor shall appoint a City Administrator, subject to the confirmation by the City Council, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City. The City Administrator shall be a person of demonstrated administrative ability with experience in a responsible, important executive capacity and shall be chosen by the Mayor solely on the basis of the City Administrator's executive and administrative qualifications. No member of the Council shall, during the term for which they are elected or appointed, or for one year thereafter, be chosen as City Administrator.

(Amended by: Stats. November 1988, November 1998 and March 2004.)

(Res. No. 89280, 6-21-2022)

Section 501. Compensation and Tenure.

The City Administrator shall receive the salary fixed by the Council. The City Administrator shall be appointed for an indefinite term and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

(Amended by: Stats. November 1988 and March 2004.)

(Res. No. 89280, 6-21-2022)

Section 502. Acting City Administrator.

The City Administrator shall designate two or more of the City Administrator's assistants or department heads, in the sequence in which they are to serve, as Acting City Administrator to serve as City Administrator in the temporary absence or disability of the City Administrator.

(Amended by: Stats. November 1988 and March 2004.)

(Res. No. 89280, 6-21-2022)

Section 503. Powers of Appointment and Removal.

The City Administrator shall be responsible to the Council for the proper and efficient administration of all affairs of the City under the City Administrator's jurisdiction, and shall, subject to the provisions of Article IX of this Charter and except as otherwise provided in this Charter, have the power to appoint, assign, reassign, discipline and remove all directors or heads of departments and all employees under the City Administrator's jurisdiction. The City Administrator may delegate to directors or other department heads responsible to the City Administrator the authority to appoint, discipline and remove subordinate employees, subject to the provisions of Article IX of this Charter.

(Amended by: Stats. November 1988 and March 2004.)

(Res. No. 89280, 6-21-2022)

Section 504. Duties. The City Administrator shall have the power and it shall be the City Administrator's duty:

(a) To execute and enforce all laws and ordinances and policies of the Council and to administer the affairs of the City.

(b) To attend all meetings of the Council, and its committees, unless excused, and such meetings of boards and commissions as the City Administrator chooses or is directed to attend by the Council, and to participate in discussions at such meetings.

(c) To recommend to the Council such measures and ordinances as the City Administrator may deem necessary or expedient and to make such other recommendations to the Council concerning the affairs of the City as the City Administrator finds desirable.

(d) To investigate affairs of the City under the City Administrator's supervision, or any franchise or contract for the proper performance of any obligation running to the City within the City Administrator's jurisdiction.

(e) To control and administer the financial affairs of the City. The City Administrator may appoint a Director of Finance to act under the City Administrator's direction.

(f) To prepare an annual budget under the direction of the Mayor and Council for the Mayor's submission to the Council.

(g) To prepare or cause to be prepared the plans, specifications, and contracts for work which the Council may order.

(h) To supervise the purchasing of materials and supplies and to make recommendations to the Council in connection with the awarding of public contracts and to see that all City contracts under the City Administrator's direction or that of the Council are faithfully performed.

(i) To prepare and submit to the Council such reports as it may require.

(j) To keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City.

(k) To prescribe such general rules and regulations as the City Administrator may deem necessary or expedient to the general conduct of the administrative departments under the City Administrator's jurisdiction.

(l) When directed by the Council, to represent the City in its intergovernmental relations and to negotiate contracts for joint governmental actions, subject to Council approval.

(m) To devote the City Administrator's entire time to the duties and interest of the City.

(n) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or by ordinance or resolution.

(Amended by: Stats. November 1988 and March 2004.)

(Res. No. 89280, 6-21-2022)