Susanville Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Manager

Editor's Note: Ordinance 24-1042 updates Chapter 2.08 to change "city manager" to be "city manager." In addition, the ordinance updates all references in the code from "city manager" to be changed to be "city manager." The additional changes are not noted in the legislative histories of each section.

The office of city manager is created and established. The city manager shall be ex officio director of finance and budget manager. The city manager shall be appointed by the city council wholly on the basis of his or her administrative and executive ability and qualifications, and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the city council.

(Prior code § 2.51; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

No person serving as a councilmember of the city shall be eligible for appointment as city manager until one year has elapsed after such councilmember has ceased to be a member of the city council.

(Prior code § 2.53; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

The city manager shall furnish a corporate surety bond, to be approved by the city council in such sum as may be determined by the city council, which shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the city manager as prescribed in this chapter. Any premium for such bond shall be a proper charge against the city.

(Prior code § 2.54; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

A. The city manager shall receive such compensation and expense allowance as the city council from time to time determines and fixes by resolution, and said compensation and expenses shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the city council designates.

B. Such compensation and expense allowance may be set forth in the form of a contract or agreement separate and apart from an employee compensation plan.

C. The city manager shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him or her in the performance of his or her duties or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city under direction of the city council; reimbursement shall be only made, however, when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for such business for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented to the city council for approval.

(Prior code § 2.55; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

The city manager shall appoint, subject to the approval of the city council, one of the other officers or department heads of the city to serve as city manager pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the city manager. In case of the absence or disability of the city manager and failure to appoint a city manager pro tempore, the city council may designate some qualified city employee to perform the duties of the city manager during the period of absence or disability of the city manager subject, however, to such person furnishing a corporate surety bond conditional upon faithful performance of the duties required to be performed as set forth in this article.

(Prior code § 2.56; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

The city manager shall be the administrative head of the government of the city under the direction and control of the city council, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. The city manager shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the city which are under his or her control. In addition to his or her general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his or her duty and he or she shall have the powers set forth in Sections 2.08.070 through 2.08.170 inclusive.

(Prior code § 2.57; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to ensure the enforcement of all ordinances of the city and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council are faithfully observed.

(Prior code § 2.58; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the city manager to recommend to the city council such reorganization of offices, positions, departments or units under the city manager's direction as may be indicated in the interest of efficient, effective and economical conduct of the city's business.

(Prior code § 2.59; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to appoint and remove or promote or demote any and all officers and employees of the city with the approval of the city council, except the city attorney, and any elected position or officer.

(Prior code § 2.60; Ord. 98-848 § 1; Ord. 04-912 § 1, 2004; Ord. 09-970 § 1, 2009; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall have the authority to control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city, except the city attorney, and any elected position or officer, to transfer employees from one department to another or to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under his or her direction, with the approval of the city council.

(Prior code § 2.61; Ord. 98-848 § 1; Ord. 04-912 § 1, 2004; Ord. 09-970 § 2, 2009; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as the city manager deems necessary or expedient.

(Prior code § 2.62; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom, except when his or her removal is under consideration.

(Prior code § 2.63; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

A. It shall be the duty of the city manager to regulate the duties and responsibilities of the director of finance and budget manager to ensure proper fiscal management and to see that the director of finance is dutifully serving all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council that relate to financial matters.

B. The director of finance shall perform the responsibilities as purchasing agent for the city, performing the duties of purchasing as set forth in Chapter 3.08 of the Susanville Municipal Code. The director of finance shall report to the city manager concerning financial reports showing revenues adequate to allow expenditures in the budget, and shall immediately report to the city manager when revenues are inadequate to allow budgeted expenditures.

(Prior code § 2.64; Ord. 98-848 § 1; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to make investigations into the affairs of the city, and any department or division thereof, and any contract, agreement, franchise, or the proper performance of any obligations of the city.

(Prior code § 2.65; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to prepare or cause to be prepared for submittal to the city council a personnel ordinance which sets forth rules and regulations governing the rights, privileges, duties and responsibilities of employees and officers of the city. Such personnel ordinance shall also provide for the establishment by ordinance or resolution of the city council a position classification plan with appropriate compensation schedules.

(Prior code § 2.66; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager and he or she shall exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and all other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council.

(Prior code § 2.67; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of the city manager to perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated to him or her from time to time by ordinance or resolution or other action of the city council.

(Prior code § 2.68)

The city council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the city only through the city manager, except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager. The city manager shall take orders and instructions from the city council only when sitting in a duly held meeting of the city council, and no individual council member shall give any orders or instructions to the city manager.

(Prior code § 2.69; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and employees, and elected city officers and personnel to assist the city manager in administering the affairs of the city efficiently, economically and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their duties as prescribed by the laws and ordinances of the city.

(Prior code § 2.70; Ord. 98-848 § 1; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

The city manager shall be an ex officio member of all boards and commissions appointed by the mayor or city council pursuant to law, with a right to participate in all deliberations or actions by his or her voice, but without vote.

(Prior code § 2.71; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)

The termination of the city manager's employment with the city shall be only upon a three-member vote of the entire city council in a regular council meeting. In terminating the employment of the city manager, the city council shall use its unhindered and absolute discretion. The city manager is an at-will employee and serves at the pleasure of the city council. The city council has the power to dismiss the city manager with or without cause at its pleasure. The action of the city council shall be final.

(Prior code § 2.72; Ord. 24-1042, 2/21/2024)