Santa Barbara County Municipal Code Art. X County Executive Officer

The board of supervisors is the governing body of the County of Santa Barbara. 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 county 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.

(Ord. No. 4564, § 1)

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

The county 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 serve at the pleasure of the board.

(Ord. No. 4564, § 1)

The county executive officer shall have the following duties, responsibilities and authorities:

(a) The county 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.

(b) The county executive officer shall review and make recommendations on board agenda items; make periodic reports to the board on county matters and assure 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. This provision does not apply to members of the board of supervisors, each of whom has an unfettered ability to place items on the board agenda.

(c) The county executive officer shall act as the executive agent of the board of supervisors in the county's intergovernmental relationships. The county 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.

(d) The county 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 county 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 county executive officer shall mediate and seek a resolution of conflict.

(e) The county executive officer shall be responsible for the assignment of work areas, space planning and technology infrastructure among county departments.

(f) The county executive officer or designated assistant county executive officer shall exercise direct oversight of all appointed department directors and their agencies and departments except for the county counsel, who reports directly to the board of supervisors. Such appointed department directors and their agencies shall report to and be supervised by the county executive officer or designated assistant county executive officer. The county executive officer or designated assistant county executive officer shall annually evaluate the performance of appointed department directors and submit such evaluations to the board of supervisors for comment. Except as expressly provided by California law, the county executive officer shall select, appoint, suspend, remove and retain appointed department directors. The board of supervisors shall approve the appointment of an appointed department director. At the time of appointment of any new county executive officer, the board of supervisors may reevaluate the authority provided in this section.

(g) The county executive officer shall manage the administration of county personnel ordinances including the recruitment, examination, appointment or dismissal of affected county employees, direct the county employee relations program and make, or cause to be made, recommendations to the board of supervisors concerning existing personnel conditions, or requests for additional personnel, or for any change in the classification or salary of any county employee, officer or official, presented by any department director, county officer or official thereof, or recognized employee organizations.

(h) The county 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 county executive officer shall approve on the basis of management principles such organizational changes as proposed by departments. The county executive officer shall recommend to the board of supervisors the creation, dissolution, merger or modification of organizational elements, departments or work programs as deemed necessary for the efficient, and effective operation of county government. The county 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.

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

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

(k) The county executive officer shall cause both the operating and capital budget planning processes to be compatible with approved county policies and long range plans. The county 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 county 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 county 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 county executive officer for approval or denial with a recommendation to the board of supervisors for final approval or denial.

(l) Reserved.

(m) The county 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.

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

(o) Reserved.

(p) The county 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.

(q) 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. No. 4564, § 1; Ord. No. 4708, §§ 1, 2, 3-17-2009; Ord. No. 5165, § 1, 11-29-2022)

(a) Removal from office; notice of resignation. The county executive officer may be removed from office by a majority vote of the board of supervisors upon a minimum of sixty days prior written notice of removal. However, no notice of removal shall be given to the county executive officer during the first ninety days following any change in membership of the board of supervisors, except upon a four-fifths vote of the board. A notice of removal shall be delivered in person or by mail to the county executive officer.

The county executive officer may also be removed from office in the same manner as a county officer may be removed for commission of any offense punishable under state law by removal from office. The county executive officer may be suspended from office by a majority vote of the board of supervisors while any proceeding or action to remove him or her from office is pending. The county executive officer shall give the board of supervisors a minimum of sixty days written notice of his or her intent to resign.

(b) Compensation. The county executive officer salary range shall be established by resolution of the board of supervisors. The salary shall be paid and the benefits administered biweekly by the auditor-controller in the same manner as the salaries and benefits of other county management employees are paid. The county executive officer is entitled to all benefits conferred upon county management employees relating to merit salary increases, sick leave, vacation and holidays, and by the county employees retirement law. The county executive officer is entitled to the use of a county car and/or a mileage allowance as established by the board of supervisors and to all actual and necessary budgeted expenses for conducting county business, including dues and expenses for participation in regional, state and national professional organizations of benefit to the county.

(c) Ex Officio Positions. The county executive officer shall hold, ex officio, the following positions:

(1) Director of Emergency Services. The office of director of emergency services as provided for in Chapter 12, Section 12-6 of the Santa Barbara County Code, or successor law.

(2) Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. The office of clerk of the board of supervisors as provided for in Chapter 2, Section 24-4 of the Santa Barbara County Code, or successor law.

(3) Executive Director of Redevelopment Agency. Executive director of the Santa Barbara County Redevelopment Agency.

(d) No Implied Limitation of Authority. No limitation of the authority and powers of the county executive officer shall be implied from any omission in these sections to delegate expressly to the position any authority, duty or function.

(Ord. No. 4564, § 1)