San Bernardino Municipal Code Art. V Departments, Services, Officers and Employees

The City Manager may establish City departments, offices, or agencies in addition to those created by this Charter, subject to approval of the City Council, and may prescribe the functions of all departments, offices and agencies to meet the needs of the community in the most effective and efficient manner.

Each City department, office and agency shall be administered by an executive appointed by and subject to the direction and supervision of the City Manager, except the Offices of the Council, Mayor, City Attorney and City Clerk, the Library Board of Trustees, and the Water Board, which shall be administered by their respective executive officers as provided for elsewhere in this Charter but which shall in all other respects be governed by the policies applicable to all other departments, offices and agencies.

With the consent of the Council, the City Manager may serve as the executive of one or more such departments, offices or agencies.

The City Manager may appoint one person to serve as the executive of two or more departments.

All departments, agencies, offices, and services in existence at the time this Charter is adopted shall continue in the same manner as before the adoption of this Charter, unless and until changed by ordinance or other action approved by the City Council.

A duly qualified City Attorney shall be hired by a vote of the Mayor and entire Council, as provided in section 304(b) of this Charter. The City Attorney may be removed by the Mayor and entire Council in the same manner. The City Attorney shall serve as chief legal advisor to the Council, the City Manager and all City departments, offices and agencies; shall represent the City in all legal proceedings; and shall perform any other duties prescribed by State law, this Charter or by ordinance.

A duly qualified City Clerk shall be hired by a vote of the Mayor and entire Council, as provided in section 304(b) of this Charter. The City Clerk may be removed by the Mayor and entire Council in the same manner. The City Clerk shall give notice of Council meetings to its members and the public, keep the journal of its proceedings, and shall perform any other duties prescribed by State law, this Charter or by ordinance.

Each departmental executive shall have the power to appoint, supervise, suspend, or remove such assistants, deputies, subordinates and employees as are provided for the department, subject to the approval of the City Manager and subject to the provisions of the personnel rules and regulations adopted by the Council.

The City shall provide for a municipal police department. The City also shall provide for community development, finance, fire and emergency medical services, information technology, library, parks and recreation, personnel, public works, water and wastewater, and such other services as the Council deems appropriate for the public’s health, safety and welfare.

All appointments and promotions of City officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by a valid and reliable examination or other evidence of competence. The administration of employee matters shall be delegated to a personnel or human resources department.

Consistent with all applicable Federal and State laws, the Council shall provide for the establishment, regulation and maintenance of a merit system and governing personnel rules and regulations necessary for the effective administration of the employees of the City’s departments, offices and agencies. Such personnel rules and regulations may include but are not limited to classification and pay plans, examinations, force reduction, removals, working conditions, provisional and exempt appointments, in-service training, grievances and relationships with employee organizations.

The Council shall fix by resolution the amounts and terms of the official bonds of all officers or employees who are required by the Council to acquire such bonds. All bonds shall be executed by a responsible corporate surety, shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney, and shall be filed with the City Clerk. Premiums on official bonds shall be paid by the City.

There shall be no personal liability upon, or any right to recover against, a superior officer, or his or her bond, for any wrongful act or omission of his or her subordinate, unless such superior officer was a party to, or conspired in, such wrongful act or omission.