Sec. 2.10. - To be administrative head of city; powers and duties generally.
Oceanside Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Oceanside
The city manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the city under the direction and control of the city council, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. He shall be responsible 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 his duty and he shall have the powers set forth as follows:
(a)
Law enforcement. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to see that all laws, ordinances and contracts of the city are duly enforced, and that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully observed.
(b)
Authority over employees. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to control, order and give directions to all appointive heads of departments, except those officers appointed specifically by the city council, namely, the city attorney and special auditor, and to subordinate officers and employees of the city through their department heads, transfer employees from one department to another, and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under this direction.
(c)
Preparation and submission of preliminary budget. To tabulate the same into a preliminary consolidated municipal budget and submit the same to the council before the first day of June of each year, with his recommendations as to such changes which he deems advisable.
(d)
Power of appointment, etc. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to appoint, remove, suspend, promote and demote any and all appointive officers and employees of the city in accordance with the personnel ordinances and personnel rules and regulations of the city, except those officers appointed specifically by the city council, namely, the city attorney and special auditor.
(e)
Control over personnel. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to exercise control over all departments of government of the city and over all appointive officers and all employees thereof, except those officers appointed specifically by the city council, namely, the city attorney and special auditor.
(f)
Attendance at council meetings. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to attend all the meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom by the council, except when his removal is under consideration by the council.
(g)
Recommend needed ordinances, etc. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as he deems necessary or expedient.
(h)
Financial reports. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial conditions and needs of the city.
(i)
Preparation and submission of budget. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to prepare and submit, before the first day of June of each year, the proposed annual budget, including the proposed annual salary plan, to the city council for its consideration. The city manager shall be responsible for the administration of the budget after the final adoption, and shall keep the council informed with respect thereto.
(j)
Purchasing of supplies; inventory of city property. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to purchase all supplies for all of the departments or divisions of the city. No expenditure shall be submitted or recommended to the city council except on report or approval of the city manager.
(k)
Investigation of city affairs. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to make investigations into the affairs of the city and any department or division thereof, and any contract or the proper performance of any obligations running to the city.
(l)
Investigate complaints concerning public utilities, franchises, etc. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the city government 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 performed and observed.
(m)
Public buildings. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and all other public property which is under the control and jurisdiction of the city council.
(n)
Hours of employment. It shall be the duty of the city manager to devote his entire time to the duties of his office in the interests of the city; provided, however, that the city manager may, with the prior approval of the city council accept employment with the Oceanside Small Craft Harbor District, such employment and the time to be devoted thereto to be at the will of the city council.
(o)
[Reserved.]
(p)
Supervision of public relations. The city manager shall serve as a public relations officer of the city government and shall follow through and endeavor to adjust all just complaints filed against any employee, department, division or service thereof.
(q)
Contracts, purchases and improvement agreements. The city manager is authorized to enter into the following agreement and contracts on behalf of the city:
(1)
Purchases and contracts for supplies, services, equipment or work having a price up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000);
(2)
Secured agreements to provide improvements as a condition of a subdivision or development project, the standard form for which has been approved by city council or is otherwise established by statute, ordinance or resolution;
(3)
Any agreement for which the city council has delegated such authority by ordinance, resolution or other action.
(r)
Signing contract change order. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to sign contract change orders, provided that the change is required to accomplish the scope of work of the contract, and the dollar amount of the change does not exceed ten (10) percent of the contract price, and the dollar amount of the change does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).
(s)
Other authority and duties. It shall be the duty of the city manager and he shall have the authority to perform such other duties and exercise such other authority as may be delegated to him from time to time by ordinance or resolution or other action of the city council.
(t)
Delegation of authority. Whenever the city council has by ordinance, resolution or other action of the city council delegated authority to the city manager or any other officer or employee under the control of the city manager, such authority and responsibility shall reside primarily with the city manager. The city manager shall have the authority to make written delegations of such authority to other officers or employees.
(Ord. Code, §§ 1322 to 1334, 1337, 1338, 1340; Ord. No. 62-19, § 1, Ord. No. 63-34, § 1; Ord. No. 65-2, § 1; Ord. No. 87-05, § 1, 1-28-87; Ord. No. 89-13, § 1.a—e, 7-12-89; Ord. No. 94-10, § 4, 5-4-94; Ord. No. 97-21, § 1, 11-19-97; Ord. No. 00-711-1, § 1, 11-15-00; Ord. No. 24-OR0205-1, §§ 1, 3, 5-8-2024)
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- Part I — CHARTER
- Chapter 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 2 — ADMINISTRATION
- Article I — CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
- Article I.5 — CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION
▸Article II — CITY MANAGER
Overview- Sec. 2.4. - Office created; qualifications generally; tenure.
- Sec. 2.5. - Reserved.
- Sec. 2.6. - Bond.
- Sec. 2.7. - Cooperation of other city officers.
- Sec. 2.8. - Manager pro tempore; bond.
- Sec. 2.10. - To be administrative head of city; powers and dut…
- Sec. 2.11. - Councilmanic dealings with employees, etc.
- Sec. 2.12. - Attendance at meetings of commissions, etc.
- Sec. 2.13. - Agent of the city.
- Sec. 2.14. - Removal from office; limitations.
- Article III — CITY CLERK
- Article IV — OFFICE OF THE CITY TREASURER
- Article V — CITY ENGINEER
- Article VI — LIBRARY
- Article VII — PLANNING COMMISSION
- Article VIIA — REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING COMMISSION
- Article VIII — USE OF CITY PROPERTY FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES
- Article IX — CITY FUNDS
- Article X — DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
- Article XI — CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE
- Article XII — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
- Article XIII — SALE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
- Article XIV — RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
- Article XV — BY-DISTRICT ELECTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL OFFICES
- Article XVI — MEASURE X CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
- Article XVII — TERM LIMITS
- Article I — IN GENERAL
- Article II — ESTABLISHMENTS OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE
- Chapter 3B — AIRPORT
- Article I — AIRPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS
- Article II — AIRPORT APPROACH ZONING
- Article I — IN GENERAL
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- Division 1 — GENERALLY
- Division 2 — LICENSES
- Division 3 — RABIES CONTROL
- Division 4 — VICIOUS DOGS
- Chapter 5 — BICYCLES AND MOBILITY DEVICES
- Chapter 6 — BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS
- Article I — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
- Article II — BUILDING CODE
- Article III — PLUMBING CODE
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- Article V — HOUSING CODE
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- Article VII — DANGEROUS BUILDINGS CODE
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- Article IX — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
- Article X — ENFORCEMENT OF MOBILEHOME PARKS ACT
- Article XI — UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDING MITIGATION
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- Article XIII — GREEN BUILDING CODE
- Article XIV — ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Article XV — ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
- Article XVI — UNIFORM SWIMMING POOL, SPA AND HOT TUB CODE
- Chapter 6A — ALARM SYSTEMS
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- Article III — CESSPOOL CLEANERS
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- Article V — REGISTRATION OF GUESTS IN HOTELS, ROOMING HOUSES, …
- Article VI — PEEP SHOW ESTABLISHMENTS
- Article VII — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION
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- Article IX — REGULATION OF PAY TELEPHONES
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- Article XII — REGULATION AND CONTAINMENT OF SHOPPING CARTS
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- Chapter 7B — OBNOXIOUS CONDUCT
- Chapter 8 — CARDROOMS
- Chapter 9 — CIVIL DEFENSE
- Chapter 9A — CABLE SYSTEMS AND OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS
- Article I — GENERAL
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- Article III — OPEN VIDEO SYSTEMS
- Article IV — MISCELLANEOUS
- Chapter 9B — REGULATION OF STATE VIDEO FRANCHISE HOLDERS
- Chapter 10 — DANCES AND DANCE HALLS
- Chapter 10A — SMOKING
- Chapter 11 — FIRE PROTECTION
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- Chapter 1 — Administration is hereby amended by adding to (A) …
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- Chapter 61 — Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) is hereby amended…
- Article III — ABATEMENT OF CERTAIN VEGETATION AND WASTE MATTER
- Chapter 12 — FOOD AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
- Article II — REFRIGERATION PLANTS
- Article III — PERMITS FOR FOOD-HANDLING ESTABLISHMENTS
- Article IV — FOOD HANDLERS
- Article V — DESTRUCTION OF SPOILED FOOD
- Article VI — FOOD VENDING VEHICLES
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- Chapter 13 — SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING
- Article I — GENERAL PROVISIONS
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- Article III — ENFORCEMENT
- Article IV — MARINE DEBRIS REDUCTION ORDINANCE
- Chapter 14 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
- Article II — PROHIBITION OF SMOKING IN COUNCIL CHAMBER
- Article III — FEE SCHEDULE: PERMIT PROCEDURE
- Article IV — HAZARDOUS WASTES
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- Chapter 14C — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING
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- Article II — LICENSING, MASSAGE TECHNICIANS AND ESTABLISHMENTS
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- Article IV — BINGO GAMES
- Article V — SIDEWALK VENDORS
- Chapter 16 — MINORS
- Chapter 16B — MANUFACTURED HOME FAIR PRACTICES
- Chapter 16C — MUNICIPAL LOBBYIST REGISTRATION AND REPORTING RE…
- Chapter 17 — NUISANCE ABATEMENT
- Article I — REAL PROPERTY NUISANCE ABATEMENT
- Article II — WEED ABATEMENT
- Article III — VEHICLE ABATEMENT
- Article IV — DISTURBANCE ABATEMENT
- Chapter 18 — MUNICIPAL PIER
- Chapter 19 — OCEANSIDE BEACH
- Chapter 19A — OCEANSIDE BEACHES; CONSTRUCTION OF SEAWALLS, REV…
- Article I — DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
- Article II — DEFINITIONS
- Article III — PERMITS
- Article IV — APPLICABLE STANDARDS
- Article V — REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
- Article VI — EMERGENCY WORK
- Article VII — PENALTIES—CONSTITUTIONALITY
- Chapter 20 — OFFENSES—MISCELLANEOUS
- Article I — PUBLIC PEACE, SAFETY AND WELFARE
- Article II — PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY
- Article III — NUISANCES
- Article IV — ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
- Article V — ILLEGAL STREET RACING
- Article VI — RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES AND SERVICE …
- Article VII — SYNTHETIC DRUGS AND MISLABELED/MISBRANDED PRODUC…
- Chapter 21 — PARKS AND RECREATION
- Article II — PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
- Article III — SKATEBOARD PARKS
- Chapter 22 — PAWNBROKERS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS
- Chapter 23 — PERSONNEL SYSTEM
- Article I — IN GENERAL
- Article II — PERSONNEL DIRECTOR
- Article III — COMPETITIVE SERVICE
- Article IV — SUSPENSION, DISCHARGE, REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL, ETC.
- Article V — DETERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
- Chapter 24 — SHORT-TERM RENTALS
- Chapter 24A — OCEANSIDE TOURISM MARKETING DISTRICT
- Chapter 25 — POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Chapter 26 — POOLROOMS AND SHOOTING GALLERIES
- Chapter 28A — PURCHASES AND SALES
- Chapter 29 — SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
- Article II — SEWER CONNECTIONS
- Article III — SERVICE CHARGES
- Article IV — EXTENSION OF SEWER MAINS
- Article V — ENLARGEMENT OF MAINS BEYOND MINIMUM CAPACITY REQUI…
- Article VI — RESERVED
- Article VII — SEWER ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS
- Article VIII — SEPTIC TANKS, CESSPOOLS, ETC.
- Division 2 — PERMITS
- Division 3 — INSPECTIONS
- Division 4 — CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN STANDARDS
- Division 5 — CONDEMNATION OF BUILDINGS
- Article IX — REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL KITCHEN GREASE DISPOSAL
- Article X — REGULATION OF DISCHARGE INTO CITY SEWER SYSTEM
- Chapter 29A — SMALL CRAFT HARBOR
- Article II — SANITATION AND REFUSE
- Article III — COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
- Article IV — UNSEAWORTHY, SUNK OR ABANDONED VESSELS
- Article V — MISCELLANEOUS VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN REGULATIONS
- Chapter 30 — SOLICITORS, PEDDLERS, HAWKERS, ITINERANT MERCHANT…
- Article I — SOLICITATION IN GENERAL
- Article II — MISCELLANEOUS SOLICITATIONS
- Article III — AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATIONS
- Article IV — CHARITABLE SOLICITATIONS
- Chapter 30A — SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS
- Chapter 30B — SPECIAL OPERATIONS PERMIT: USE OF PUBLIC RECREAT…
- Chapter 31 — STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
- Article I.1 — PARKWAYS
- Article II — EXCAVATIONS GENERALLY
- Article IIA — EXCAVATIONS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
- Article IIB — ENCROACHMENTS ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
- Article III — UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES GENERALLY
- Division 1 — OBSTRUCTIONS
- Division 2 — REPAIRS
- Article V — DRIVEWAYS
- Article VI — POLES, WIRES, ETC.
- Article VII — OVERHANGING AWNINGS
- Article VIII — RESERVED
- Article IX — HOUSE NUMBERS
- Chapter 31A — STREET TREES AND OTHER VEGETATION
- Chapter 31B — SWAP MEETS
- Chapter 32A — RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
- Article I — PROCEDURES
- Chapter 32C — PUBLIC FACILITY FEE REQUIREMENTS
- Chapter 32D — PARKS IMPACT FEE
- Chapter 32E — SCHOOL FACILITIES MITIGATION
- Chapter 34 — TAXATION
- Article I — TRANSFER OF CITY TAX FUNCTION TO COUNTY
- Article II — SALES AND USE TAX
- Division 1 — IN GENERAL
- Division 2 — TEMPORARY ONE-HALF CENT SALES TAX
- Article III — TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX
- Article IV — REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
- Article V — CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX
- Chapter 35 — TAXICABS AND OTHER VEHICLES FOR HIRE
- Article II — CERTIFICATE TO OPERATE
- Article III — LICENSES
- Article IV — OPERATING REGULATIONS
- Article V — DRIVERS
- Article VI — SPECIFICATIONS AND EQUIPMENT
- Article VII — FARES
- Chapter 36 — TRAMPOLINE CENTERS
- Chapter 36A — TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
- Article II — BUS LOADING ZONES
- Chapter 36B — UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
- Chapter 37 — WATER
- Article II — WATER RATES AND COLLECTION THEREOF
- Division 2 — METERS
- Article III — EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS
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- Article V — WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
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- Article VII — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS
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- Article IX — CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION
- Chapter 38 — NOISE CONTROL
- Article III — SOUND LEVEL LIMITS
- Article IV — PROHIBITED NOISES
- Article V — EXEMPTIONS
- Article VI — ENFORCEMENT
- Chapter 39 — LIGHT POLLUTION REGULATIONS
- Chapter 40 — URBAN RUNOFF AND DISCHARGE CONTROL
- Article I — DEFINITIONS
- Article II — TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION
- Article III — ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
- Article IV — TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
- Article V — TURNING MOVEMENTS
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- Article VII — STOP AND YIELD REQUIREMENTS
- Article VIII — MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
- Article IX — PEDESTRIANS' REGULATIONS
- Article X — STOPPING, STANDING AND GENERAL PARKING REGULATIONS
- Article XI — SPECIAL PARKING ZONES
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- Article XIV — SPECIAL SPEED ZONES
- Article XV — SCHOOL CROSSING REGULATIONS
- Article XVII — REMOVAL OF KEYS FROM UNATTENDED VEHICLES