San Francisco County Municipal Code Art. III Executive Branch – Office of Mayor

Sec. 3.100. Powers and Responsibilities. Sec. 3.101. Term of Office. Sec. 3.102. Absence from State or Temporary Disability. Sec. 3.103. Veto Power. Sec. 3.104. City Administrator. Sec. 3.105. Controller; City Services Auditor; Inspector General.

The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer and the official representative of the City and County, and shall serve full time in that

capacity. The Mayor shall devote his or her entire time and attention to the duties of the office, and shall not devote time or attention to any other occupation or business activity. The Mayor shall enforce all laws relating to the City and County, and accept service of process on its behalf. The Mayor shall have responsibility for: 1. General administration and oversight of all departments and governmental units in the executive branch of the City and County; 2. Coordination of all intergovernmental activities of the City and County; 3. Receipt and examination of complaints relating to the administration of the affairs of the City and County, and timely delivery of notice to the complainant of findings and actions taken; 4. Assurance that appointees to various governmental positions with the City and County are qualified and are as representative of the communities of interest and diverse population of the City and County as is reasonably practicable, and are representative of both sexes; 5. Submission of ordinances and resolutions by the executive branch for consideration by the Board of Supervisors; 6. Presentation before the Board of Supervisors of a policies and priorities statement setting forth the Mayor's policies and budget priorities for the City and County for the ensuing fiscal year; 7. Appearance, in person, at one regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors each month to engage in formal policy discussions with members of the Board; 8. Introduction before the Board of Supervisors of the annual proposed budget or multi-year budget which shall be initiated and prepared by the Mayor. The Mayor shall seek comments and recommendations on the proposed budget from the various commissions, officers and departments; and 9. Preparation of and introduction to the Board of Supervisors of supplemental appropriations. The Mayor shall have the power to: 10. Speak and be heard with respect to any matter at any meeting of the Board of Supervisors or any of its committees, and shall have a seat but no vote on all boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor; 11. As provided in Section 3.103 of this Charter, veto any ordinance or resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors; 12. Subject to the fiscal provisions of this Charter and budgetary approval by the Board of Supervisors, appoint such staff as may be needed to perform the duties and carry out the responsibilities of the Mayor's office, provided that no member of the staff shall receive a salary in excess of seventy percent of that paid the Mayor. For purposes of this provision, staff does not include the City Administrator, department heads or employees of departments placed under his or her direction by Section 3.104. Notwithstanding any other provisions or limitations of this Charter to the contrary, the Mayor may not designate nor may the City and County employ on the Mayor's behalf any person to act as deputy to the Mayor or any similar employment classification, regardless of title, whose responsibilities include but are not necessarily limited to supervision of the administration of any department for which the City Administrator, an elected official other than the Mayor or an appointed board or commission is assigned responsibility elsewhere in this Charter; 13. Designate a member of the Board of Supervisors to act as Mayor in the Mayor's absence from the state or during a period of temporary disability; 14. In the case of an emergency threatening the lives, property or welfare of the City and County or its citizens, the Mayor may direct the personnel and resources of any department, command the aid of other persons, and do whatever else the Mayor may deem necessary to meet the emergency; In meeting an emergency, the Mayor shall act only with the concurrence of the Board of Supervisors, or a majority of its members immediately available if the emergency causes any member of the Board to be absent. The Mayor shall seek the Board's concurrence as soon as is reasonably possible in both the declaration of an emergency and in the action taken to meet the emergency. Normal notice, posting and agenda requirements of the Board of Supervisors shall not be applicable to the Board's actions pursuant to these provisions; 15. Make an appointment to fill any vacancy in an elective office of the City and County until a successor shall have been elected; 16. Subject to the provisions of Charter Section 2.113, submit to the voters a declaration of policy or ordinance on any matter on which the Board of Supervisors is empowered to pass; 17. Have and exercise such other powers as are provided by this Charter or by law for the chief executive officer of a City and County; 18. Unless otherwise specifically provided, make appointments to boards and commissions which shall be effective immediately and remain so, unless rejected by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days following transmittal of Notice of Appointment. The Notice of Appointment shall include the appointee's qualifications to serve and a statement how the appointment represents the communities of interest, neighborhoods and diverse populations of the City and County; 19. Appoint department heads subject to the provisions of this Charter; and 20. Prepare and submit schedule of rates, fees and other similar charges to the Board of Supervisors. (Amended by Proposition C, Approved 11/6/2007; Proposition C, Approved 11/2/2010)

The Mayor shall serve a four-year term. No person shall serve as mayor for more than two successive terms. A part of a term that exceeds two years shall count as a full term. There shall be no limit on the non- successive terms that a person may serve.

DISABILITY. If the Mayor is absent from the state or temporarily disabled without designating an Acting Mayor, the President of the Board of Supervisors shall act as Mayor until such time as the Mayor shall return to office. In case of a disaster in which neither the Mayor nor the President of the Board of Supervisors is able to serve as Mayor, the order of succession shall be as designated by ordinance. (Amended November 2001)

Any ordinance or resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors shall be promptly delivered to the Mayor for consideration. If the Mayor approves the ordinance or resolution, the Mayor shall sign it and it shall become effective as provided in Section 2.105 of this Charter. If the Mayor disapproves the ordinance or resolution, the Mayor shall promptly return it to the Board of Supervisors without the Mayor's signature, accompanied by a statement indicating the reasons for disapproval and any recommendations which the Mayor may have. Any ordinance or resolution so disapproved by the Mayor shall become effective only if, subsequent to its return, it shall be passed by a vote of the Board of Supervisors required by Section 2.106 of this Charter. Any ordinance or resolution shall become effective, with or without the Mayor's signature, unless it is disapproved by the Mayor and returned to the Board of Supervisors not more than ten days after the date the ordinance or resolution was delivered to the Mayor's Office for consideration.

The Mayor shall appoint or reappoint a City Administrator, subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. The appointee shall have at least ten years' governmental management or finance experience with at least five years at the City, County, or City and County level. The City Administrator shall have a term of office of five years, and may be removed by the Mayor subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. The City Administrator shall have responsibility for: 1. Administrative services within the executive branch, as assigned by the Mayor or by ordinance; 2. Administering policies and procedures regarding bonded or other long-term indebtedness, procurement, contracts and building and occupancy permits, and for assuring that all contracts and permits are issued in a fair and impartial manner and that any inspections involved with the issuance of permits shall be carried out in a like manner; 3. Coordinating all capital improvement and construction projects except projects solely under the Airport, Port, Public Utilities and Public Transportation Commissions; 4. Preparing and recommending bond measures for consideration by the Mayor and Board of Supervisors; and 5. Administering, budgeting and control of publicity and advertising expenditures. The City Administrator shall have power to: 6. With the concurrence of the Mayor, appoint and remove the directors of the Departments of Administrative Services, Solid

Waste, and Public Guardian/Administrator, and such other department heads which are placed under the City Administrator’s direction; 7. Propose rules governing procurement and contracts to the Board of Supervisors for consideration; 8. Award contracts without interference from the Mayor or Board of Supervisors; and 9. Coordinate the issuance of bonds and notes for capital improvements, equipment and cash flow borrowings, except for projects solely under the Airport, Port, Public Utilities and Public Transportation Commissions. In those instances where contract awards are not subject to Board of Supervisors' review, the City Administrator shall award contracts in full compliance with applicable laws and this Charter. The City Administrator's decision in such cases shall be final. (Amended by Proposition B, Approved 11/3/2020)

INSPECTOR GENERAL. (a) The Mayor shall appoint or reappoint a Controller for a ten-year term, subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. The Controller may only be removed by the Mayor for cause, with the concurrence of the Board of Supervisors by a two-thirds vote. (b) The Controller shall be responsible for the timely accounting, disbursement, or other disposition of monies of the City and County in accordance with sound financial practices applicable to municipalities and counties. The Controller shall have the power and duties of a County auditor, except as otherwise provided in this Charter. The Controller shall have authority to audit the accounts and operations of all boards, commissions, officers, and departments to evaluate their effectiveness and efficiency. The Controller may require periodic or special reports of departmental operations, contracts, revenues, and expenditures, and shall have access to, and authority to, examine all documents, records, books, and other property of any board, commission, officer, or department. Further, the Controller may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books, papers, testimony, and other evidence with respect to matters affecting the conduct of any department or office of the City and County. The preceding sentence authorizes the Controller to compel testimony or production from any person or entity including but not limited to City and County officers and employees; persons or entities that have or are seeking a contract, grant, lease, loan, or other agreement with the City and County, and their employees or officers; applicants for or recipients of permits, licenses, land use entitlements, tax incentives, benefits, or services from the City and County, and their employees or officers; and registered City lobbyists. The Controller and employees of the Controller, including the Inspector General, may seek and execute search warrants to the extent permitted by State law. (c) The Controller shall also serve as City Services Auditor for the City and County. As City Services Auditor, the Controller shall be responsible for monitoring the level and effectiveness of services rendered by the City to its residents, as set forth in Appendix F to this Charter. (d) Should the Controller determine at any time during the fiscal year that the revenues of the General Fund, or any special, sequestered, or other fund are insufficient or appear to be insufficient to support the remaining anticipated expenditure from that fund for the fiscal year for any department, function, or program, the Controller shall reduce or reserve all or a portion of the expenditure appropriation until such time as the Controller determines that the anticipated revenues for the remainder of that fiscal year are sufficient to support the level of expenditure anticipated for the remainder of the fiscal year. Whenever the Controller makes a reduction or reservation, the Controller shall so inform the Mayor and Board of Supervisors within 24 hours. (e) The Controller shall exercise general supervision over the accounts of all officers, commissions, boards, and employees of the City and County charged in any manner with the receipt, collection, or disbursement of City and County funds or other funds, in their capacity as City and County officials or employees. The Controller shall establish accounting records, procedures, and internal controls with respect to all financial transactions of the City and County. Such records, procedures, and controls shall permit the financial statements of the City and County to be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to municipalities and counties. (f) The Controller shall within 150 days of the end of each fiscal year prepare an annual report of the financial condition of the City and County. Such annual report shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The annual report shall contain such information and disclosures as shall be necessary to present to the public a full and understandable report of all City and County financial activity. (g) The Controller shall prepare an impartial financial analysis of each City and County ballot measure which shall include the amount of any increase or decrease in the cost of government of the City and County and its effect upon the cost of government. Such analysis shall be issued in sufficient time to permit inclusion in the voter information pamphlet. (h) The Controller shall issue from time to time such periodic or special financial reports as may be requested by the Mayor or Board of Supervisors. (i) All disbursements of funds in the custody of the Treasurer must be authorized by the Controller. No officer or employee shall bind the City and County to expend money unless there is a written contract or other instrument and unless the Controller shall certify that sufficient unencumbered balances are available in the proper fund to meet the payments under such contract or other obligation as these become due, or that the Controller expects sufficient unencumbered balances to be available in the proper fund during the course of the

budgetary cycle to meet the payments as they become due. (j) The Controller’s Office shall include an Inspector General whose responsibilities shall include reviewing complaints, leading and coordinating investigations, and collaborating with the City Services Auditor on audits, inspections, and monitoring, all with the purpose of preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse. (1) The Controller shall appoint the Inspector General, subject to approval by the Mayor and confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. The Controller may terminate the Inspector General in the Controller’s discretion. The Inspector General shall be exempt from civil service selection, appointment, and removal procedures. (2) The Inspector General shall initiate and lead investigations regarding potential violations of laws or policies involving fraud, waste, or abuse. The Inspector General shall coordinate with employees in the Controller’s Office investigating whistleblower and citizen complaints under Section F1.107, and the Controller may assign the Inspector General to supervise those employees and/or employees supporting investigation work in the City Services Audit Unit under Section F1.101. (3) The Inspector General shall consult regularly, individually or jointly as circumstances warrant, with the Ethics Commission, City Attorney, District Attorney, and/or Department of Human Resources to coordinate the departments’ investigative strategies in matters involving fraud, waste, or abuse to the extent feasible. The Inspector General shall refer investigations that the Inspector General has initiated or complaints that the Inspector General has received to the Ethics Commission, City Attorney, or District Attorney as provided in Section F1.107. After receiving such a referral, the Ethics Commission, City Attorney, and District Attorney shall report quarterly to the Inspector General on the progress of the investigation, and shall report to the Inspector General at the conclusion of the investigation, to the extent providing such reports would not compromise the investigation. These reports shall be considered confidential information to the extent permitted by state law. (4) The Inspector General may hold public hearings regarding fraud, waste, or abuse. (5) The Inspector General shall submit a public report at least twice each calendar year to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors regarding the Inspector General’s activities and the outcomes of other City agencies’ public integrity investigations to the extent those activities and outcomes are not confidential under federal, State, or local law. In these reports or at any other time, the Inspector General may make recommendations to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and City and County agencies regarding City ordinances, rules, regulations, or policies that impact public integrity in City government. (6) In carrying out the objectives set forth in this Section 3.105, the Inspector General shall receive prompt and full cooperation and assistance from all departments, officers, and employees of the City and County. (Amended November 2003; Amended by Proposition A, Approved 11/5/2009; Proposition C, Approved 11/5/2024)