Riverside Municipal Code Art. VI City Manager

There shall be a City Manager who shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the City. The process for the selection of a City Manager shall be determined by the City Council. It shall appoint, by a majority vote, the available person that it believes to be best qualified on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications, with special reference to experience in, and knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of the offices as set forth in this Charter. The City Manager shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council.

No person shall be eligible to receive appointment as City Manager while serving as Mayor or as a member of the City Council nor within one year after ceasing to hold such office.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

The City Manager shall be the head of the administrative branch of the City government. The City Manager shall be responsible to the City Council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City.

All department heads and officers of the City, except elective officers and those department heads and officers the power of whose appointment is vested by this Charter in the City Council, shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager who may appoint, suspend or remove such department heads and officers subject to the personnel merit system provisions of this Charter. However, the appointment, removal and suspension of the Library Director shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Library Trustees, the appointment (but not the suspension or removal) of the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the City Council, and the appointment (but not the suspension or removal) of the Public Utilities Director shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Public Utilities. The City Manager may approve or disapprove all proposed appointments and removals of subordinate employees by department heads or officers, except by the City Attorney, City Clerk, and the Inspector General and such appointments and removals by department heads or officers, except by the City Attorney, City Clerk, and the Inspector General, shall be subject to the approval of the City Manager.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Charter except Section 407, the City Council may adopt by ordinance, an employee appeal process which could affirm, overrule or modify a final administrative decision concerning an employee grievance and could provide that such action shall be final. Without limiting the foregoing general grant of powers, responsibilities and duties, the City Manager shall have the power and be required to:

(a) Prepare the budget annually, submit such budget to the City Council and be responsible for its administration after its adoption.

(b) Prepare and submit to the City Council annually a Capital Improvement Plan.

(c) Keep the City Council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the City and make such recommendations as may seem desirable to the City Manager.

(d) Prepare rules and regulations governing the contracting for, procuring, purchasing, storing, 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 City Council for adoption by it.

(e) See that the laws of the State pertaining to the City, the provisions of this Charter and the ordinances of the City are enforced.

(f) Perform such other duties consistent with this Charter as may be required of the City Manager by the City Council.

(Effective 1/13/2025; 10/23/2012 and 12/27/1995)

The City Manager shall be accorded a seat at the City 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.

(Effective 12/27/1995)

The City Manager shall appoint, subject to the approval of the City Council, one of the other officers or department heads of the City to serve as manager pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the City Manager.

(Effective 12/27/1995)