San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 Chief Executive Officer (ceo)—department of County Executive Office

The board of supervisors is the governing body of the County of San Luis Obispo. As the legislative body of the county, the board of supervisors is responsible for its efficient and effective management. The board has ultimate authority and control over county policy, budgetary matters, and strategic direction. The board exercises overall oversight of county operations and officers as required by California law. The board retains those powers and duties that California law requires the governing body of the county to exercise. It is the intent of this article to establish the position of chief executive officer (CEO) and delegate to the CEO executive authority to manage and direct the operations of the county to the extent allowed by law.

Pursuant to Article XI, Section 1(b), of the California Constitution and Section 24000 of the Government Code, the office of chief executive officer is created. The office shall be filled by appointment by the board of supervisors at a salary to be set by the board of supervisors. The chief executive officer shall head the department of County Executive Office.

There is established in the government of the county the position and office of the county executive officer (CEO).

(Ord. 1172 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007)

(Ord. No. 3388, § 1, 5-21-19; Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

The chief executive officer shall be appointed by the board of supervisors on the basis of knowledge and skills in public administration and finance, knowledge of organizational principles and relationships, demonstrated executive leadership and management skills, and ability to motivate people to work together cooperatively. The position is exempt from civil service and the person appointed shall be subject to the direction of the board.

The chief executive officer shall be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree. They shall be a person having demonstrated administrative and executive ability as shown by experience in private or public employment in a responsible administrative or executive position, requiring the planning and execution of work programs, or administrative operations, the budgeting and control of expenditures, and the coordination of varied activities.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007.1)

(Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

(a) The chief executive officer shall advise, assist, act as the agent for and be responsible to the board of supervisors for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the county placed in their charge by the board; and they shall enforce ordinances, orders, policies, or regulations as directed by the board of supervisors.

(b) The chief executive officer shall have the following duties, responsibilities and authorities:

(1) The chief executive officer shall be the chief administrative officer of the county and, as such, act as the primary advisor to the board of supervisors on all matters relating to the efficient and effective administration of county government;

(2) The chief executive officer shall review and make recommendations on board agenda items; make periodic reports to the board on county matters and ensure that items proposed for placement on the board's agenda are complete and sufficient for board decision-making; the county executive officer may withhold items from an agenda as necessary;

(3) The chief executive officer shall act as the executive agent of the board of supervisors in the county's intergovernmental relationships. The chief executive officer shall oversee the county's implementation of authorized intergovernmental projects and programs, assure appropriate coordination of departmental operations and resolve problems and disputes;

(4) The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the management of all county functions and operations except those committed by law to elected or appointed officers of the county and be cognizant of the administration of all departments. In so doing, the county executive officer shall ensure that board of supervisors and administrative policies, regulations and operating programs are implemented. The chief executive officer shall coordinate interdepartmental activities and assist department directors in solving problems that inhibit efficient operations within a department or create friction among departments. In cases of interdepartmental disputes, the chief executive officer shall mediate and seek a resolution of conflict;

(5) The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the assignment of work areas, space planning and technology infrastructure among all county departments;

(6) The chief executive officer or designated assistant chief executive officer shall exercise direct oversight of all appointed department directors and their agencies and departments except for the county counsel and human resources director, who report directly to the board of supervisors. Such appointed department directors and their agencies shall report to and be supervised by the chief executive officer or designated assistant chief executive officer. The chief executive officer or designated assistant chief executive officer shall annually evaluate the performance of appointed department directors. The chief executive officer shall have the authority to approve step increases for appointed department directors in conformance with section 2.48.034. Except as expressly provided by California law, the chief executive officer shall select, appoint, suspend, remove and retain appointed department directors;

(7) The chief executive officer shall conduct research and make studies, investigations and recommendations that could result in greater economy, efficiency and effectiveness in county government or improvement to county operations. The chief executive officer may initiate or approve organizational changes to departments under supervision of the county executive office on the basis of management principles. The chief executive officer shall recommend to the board of supervisors the creation, dissolution, merger or modification of organizational elements, agencies, departments, programs or services as deemed necessary for the efficient, and effective operation of county government. The chief executive officer shall recommend to the board policies and procedures for the orderly conduct of the county's administrative and operational business and preparation for future county growth and development;

(8) The chief executive officer, with prior approval of the board of supervisors, may retain the services of such consultants, experts or advisors, as the chief executive officer deems necessary for the performance of designated duties and responsibilities;

(9) The chief executive officer shall be the department head of the county executive office and, subject to budget approval, is authorized to organize, staff, and administer this office to carry out all its responsibilities;

(10) The chief executive officer shall cause both the operating and capital budget planning processes to be compatible with approved county policies and long-range plans. The chief executive officer shall direct the preparation of and evaluate the budget requests of all departments including actual and estimated expenditures, revenues, reserves and designations. The county executive officer shall direct the preparation of the proposed budget including its timing, schedule, forms and format of department input. The chief executive officer shall submit the proposed annual operating and capital budgets to the board of supervisors and shall exercise continuous review of revenues and expenditures to ensure budgetary integrity. The chief executive officer shall implement any necessary fiscal controls and keep the board of supervisors informed of the financial status of the county. All departmental requests for supplemental appropriations and budget revisions shall be reviewed by the chief executive officer for approval or denial with a recommendation to the board of supervisors for final approval or denial;

(11) The chief executive officer shall, from time to time, conduct comprehensive management reviews and analyses of programs, projects and departments, and report the findings and recommendations to the board of supervisors;

(12) The chief executive officer shall attend meetings of the board of supervisors, and may participate in the discussion of any matter, but shall not vote. The chief executive officer shall represent the board of supervisors in the county's governmental relationships, in accordance with board policies and instructions;

(13) The chief executive officer shall assist the board of supervisors in the development and implementation of the county's strategic plan, goals and priorities, assigning responsibility for their implementation; perform such other duties as the board may direct; and keep the board advised of any and all matters that may be pertinent to the discharge of its responsibilities;

(14) Act as public information officer for the county.

Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as restricting the ability of county officers or appointed department directors from directly contacting members of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: Ord. 1755 § 2, 1977: Ord. 1489 § 1, 1975: prior code § 3-007.2)

(Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

The chief executive officer, with the approval of the board of supervisors, shall transfer to the department of administrative management such existing offices, functions and employees as are necessary to exercise his duties hereunder.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007.3)

(Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

The chief executive officer may employ assistant chief executive officers or deputies and may utilize the services of such outside expert facilities and services as the board may authorize.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007.4)

(Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

No provision contained herein is intended to vest in the chief executive officer any duty now conferred by law on any other officer in the county, it being the intention of the board of supervisors only to establish an officer to whom the board may delegate certain of its duties, to be performed at its direction.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007.5)

(Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)

The chief executive officer is authorized to enter into negotiations with public carriers for the purpose of bringing about cooperative arrangements regarding charges, billings, and other matters pertaining to travel by county officers and employees on county business, subject to confirmation by the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1772 § 1 (part), 1977: prior code § 3-007.6)

(a) As authorized by section 25100.5 of the Government Code, the board of supervisors may appoint a clerk of the board in the same manner as other county officers are appointed. Upon making such an appointment, the county clerk shall no longer act as ex officio clerk of the board of supervisors.

(b) Pursuant to its authority under section 25100.5 of the Government Code, the board of supervisors hereby designates the chief executive officer as ex-officio clerk of the board of supervisors and he or she shall perform those duties prescribed by law for the county clerk as ex officio clerk of the board of supervisors or for the clerk of the board of supervisors, and those additional duties set forth herein.

(c) Additional duties to be performed by the chief executive officer as ex-officio clerk of the board of supervisors include the following:

(1) The clerk of the board shall be the "filing officer" for statements of economic interest required by the Political Reform Act and regulations promulgated by the fair political practices commission to be filed by county officers and designated employees, and any other local agency officers or designated employees who are required to file statements of economic interest in accordance with local conflict of interest codes;

(2) The clerk of the board shall act as "the code administrator" for purposes of review of local agency conflict of interest codes where the board is designated as the code reviewing body pursuant to the Political Reform Act, and for filing of such codes in accordance with the Act and applicable regulations promulgated by the fair political practices commission;

(3) The clerk of the board shall maintain the Maddy Book Appointments list and be responsible for the posting of notices of vacancies pursuant to Government Code section 54970 et seq.;

(4) The clerk of the board shall act as clerk of the board for the countywide oversight board, and for other local boards, committees, or commissions for which no specific statutory delegation of duties to the clerk of the board has been made.

(Ord. No. 3388, § 2, 5-21-19; Ord. No. 3564, § 1, 1-6-26)