Sonoma County Municipal Code § 2-6 Generally—Appointment—Compensation

Footnotes:

--- (5) ---

For state law as to authority of board of supervisors to employ persons to assist in the performance of its duties, see Gov. C., §25208.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 6467, § II, adopted April 16, 2024, amended Div. 2 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Div. 2, §§ 2-6—2-10, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 1165, §§ 1, 2, 5; Ord. No. 1847, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 2292; Ord. No. 5692, § 4, adopted in 2006; Ord. No. 5693, § 1, adopted in 2006; Ord. No. 5693, § 1, adopted in 2006; Ord. No. 5794, § 4, adopted in 2008; Ord. No. 5857, § III, adopted Nov. 3, 2009; and Ord. No. 6304, § II, adopted April 21, 2020.

There is in the county an office designated as "county administrator." Such office is a part of the classified service under the county civil service regulations. The board of supervisors shall appoint the county administrator, with a salary set by such board, and the position shall be formally designated as the "county executive."

(Ord. No. 6467, § II, 4-16-2024)

In addition to other qualifications provided by law or ordinance, the county executive shall have demonstrated administrative ability evidenced by at least five (5) years of responsible administrative or executive experience requiring the planning and execution of work programs or administrative operations, the budgeting and control of expenditures, and the coordination of varied activities; at least two (2) of such five (5) years shall have involved responsibilities for reporting to or working with a legislative body or policy making board. No member of the board of supervisors or the county shall be eligible for appointment as county executive during the term for which they have been elected or appointed, or for one (1) year thereafter.

(Ord. No. 6467, § II, 4-16-2024)

Under the supervision and control and subject to the direction of the board of supervisors, the county executive shall have the following power, duties and responsibilities:

(a) Advise, assist, act as agent for and be responsible to the board of supervisors for the prompt and efficient administration and execution of all those aspects of county government over which the board exercises control and direction, and oversee the faithful execution of the ordinances, orders and regulations of such board.

(b) Supervise, direct and coordinate the administration of all county offices, departments and institutions, and the official conduct of all county officers and officers of all districts and subdivisions of the county, as to all matters over which the board has responsibility and control.

(c) Make such studies or investigations of matters within the scope of operations of the board as such board may direct, and may make such studies or investigations of such matters as will promote economy or efficiency in government of the public welfare. May require any county officer or the head of any county institution or department to report upon or assist in such studies or investigations.

(d) Make recommendations to the board of supervisors concerning any matter within the scope of such board's operations and authority.

(e) Prepare and recommend to the board of supervisors an annual budget for all departments and agencies for which the board of supervisors is responsible. Review all requests for appropriations, requests for budget transfers, and requests for new positions, and make recommendations to the board thereon prior to action by such board upon such requests.

(f) Review and make recommendations to such board concerning all appointments to, or suspensions, or removals from any office or employment with respect to which the board acts as appointing authority.

(g) Within the limitations established by law or by the board, oversee all central administrative services and supervise department heads of the county's agriculture, weights and measures department; child support services department; community development commission; economic development board; emergency management; department of health services; human resources department; human services department; Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach; information systems department; Permit Sonoma; public defender; public infrastructure department; probation department; regional parks department; registrar of voters department; and for any other county position designated by resolution or ordinance of the board.

(h) Be appointing authority (appoint and dismiss authority) for the executive director of the community development commission; the director of economic development; the emergency management director; the equity officer; the director of health services; the human resources director; the human services director; the director of information services; the director of Permit Sonoma; the director of public infrastructure; the director of regional parks; the registrar of voters; and for any other county position designated by resolution or ordinance of the board of supervisors.

(i) Evaluate all department heads' performance, except for elected department heads. The county executive will solicit general input from the entire board for such evaluations. For department heads appointed by the board but over which the county executive exercises supervisory authority pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section, the county executive shall also make recommendations to the board on the hiring, discipline, or termination of such department heads.

(j) Supervise, direct and coordinate all human resource functions not specifically governed by the civil service ordinance, such as risk management, employee benefits, labor relations and countywide training, and may delegate such functions to any county officer, department head or employee.

(k) When authorized by the board, represent the county in its implementation of the legislative program and overall intergovernmental relationships.

(l) Recommend to the board a long-term capital improvement program including project priorities, costs and methods of financing.

(m) Attend the meetings of the board and may participate in the discussion of any subject before such board, but shall have no vote.

(n) Perform such other services and duties as the board may direct and shall keep the board fully advised of all matters which come to his or her attention which may be pertinent to the discharge of the board's responsibilities.

(o) Pursuant to Government Code section 29090, the county executive is delegated the authority to authorize transfers within the budget, provided such transfers are within major budget categories.

(p) Serve as representative of the board of supervisors to meet and confer with representatives of recognized employee organizations in the county's labor relations activities.

(q) Freeze and unfreeze any vacant county position for reasons of economy or efficiency and be responsible for the control and assignment of extra help.

(r) Perform all of the duties of the clerk of the board.

(Ord. No. 6505, §§ III, IV, 2-11-2025; Ord. No. 6467, § II, 4-16-2024)

Any officer, official, board, commission, or department head appointed by the board of supervisors who is dissatisfied with any decision of the county executive affecting such person or body, and who appeals such decision to the board of supervisors, shall provide the county executive with a written statement of their intention to appeal to the board of supervisors with the general reasons therefor.

(Ord. No. 6467, § II, 4-16-2024)

No provision of this division is intended to vest in the county executive any duty or grant to them any power or authority which is vested by law in any other county officer or employee. Nothing herein shall be construed to delegate to the county executive any authority or duty required to be exercised or performed by the board of supervisors. The county executive shall have no power to bind, obligate or commit the county or the board of supervisors of the county in connection with any contractual obligation. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude the board of supervisors from delegating to the county executive any legally delegable duty or authority which such board may from time-to-time judge proper.

(Ord. No. 6467, § II, 4-16-2024)