Woodlake Municipal Code Ch. 2.08 City Administrator

The office of the city administrator is created and established.

(Ord. 390 § 1, 1983)

The city administrator shall be appointed by the council wholly on the basis of his administrative and executive ability and qualifications and shall hold office for and during the pleasure of the council. The city administrator may also concurrently serve as the head of one or more other city departments at the pleasure of the council.

(Ord. 390 § 2, 1983)

Residence in the city of a city administrator shall not be required as a condition of the appointment.

(Ord. 390 § 3, 1983)

No person elected to the city council shall, subsequent to such election, be eligible for appointment as city administrator until one year has elapsed after such councilmember shall have ceased to be a member of the council.

(Ord. 390 § 3.1, 1983)

The city administrator shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be approved by the city council in such sum as may be determined by the council and shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties imposed upon the city administrator as herein prescribed.

(Ord. 390 § 4, 1983)

Any premium for such bond shall be a proper charge against the city.

(Ord. 390 § 4.1, 1983)

The city administrator shall receive such compensation and expense allowance as the city council shall from time to time determine and fix by resolution; and such compensation and expenses shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the council shall designate.

(Ord. 390 § 5, 1983)

The city administrator shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him in the performance of his duties or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city under direction of the council.

(Ord. 390 § 6, 1983)

Reimbursement shall only be made, however, when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for such business for which reimbursement is requested, and has been presented to the city council for approval.

(Ord. 390 § 7, 1983)

The city administrator shall appoint, subject to the approval of the council, one of the other officers or department heads of the city to serve as administrator pro tempore during any temporary absence or disability of the city administrator.

(Ord. 390 § 8, 1983)

In case of the absence or disability of the city administrator and his failure to so appoint a manager pro tempore, the council may designate some qualified city employee to perform the duties of the city administrator during the period of absence or disability of the city administrator, subject, however, to such person furnishing a corporate surety bond conditioned upon faithful performance of the duties required to be performed as set forth in Sections 2.08.050 and 2.08.060.

(Ord. 390 § 9, 1983)

The city administrator shall be the administrative head of the government of the city under the direction and control of the council except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 390 § 10, 1983)

He shall be responsible for the efficient administration of all the affairs of the city which are under his control.

(Ord. 390 § 11, 1983)

In addition to his general powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon, it shall be his duty and he shall have the powers of this section.

A. Law Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to enforce all laws and ordinances of the city and to see that all franchises, contracts, permits and privileges granted by the city council are faithfully observed.

B. Authority Over Employees. It shall be the duty of the city administrator and he shall have the authority to control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate officers and employees of the city under his jurisdiction through their department heads.

C. Recommendations to Council on Appointment. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to recommend to the city council the appointment, removal, promotion and demotion of any and all officers and employees of the city, except the city clerk, city attorney, city treasurer and the city engineer.

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

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

F. Attendance at Council Meetings. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to attend all meetings of the city council unless excused therefrom, except when his removal is under consideration.

G. Financial Reports. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to keep the city council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city.

H. Budget. It shall be the duty of the city administrator, with the assistance of the finance director, to prepare and submit the proposed annual budget and the proposed annual salary plan to the city council for its approval.

I. Purchasing Agent. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to supervise the purchase of all materials, supplies and equipment for which funds are provided in the budget; let contracts necessary for operation or maintenance of city services for amounts up to and including one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), receive sealed bids for purchases or contracts in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) and present them to the council for approval, and advise the council on the advantages or disadvantages of contract and bid proposals. No purchase shall be made, contract let or obligation incurred for any item or service which exceeds the current budget appropriation by the council. No contract in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) and no contract for new construction shall be let except by the city council. The city administrator may issue such rules governing purchasing procedures within the administrative organization as the council shall approve.

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

K. Public Utilities—Franchises. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the city government and in regard to the service maintained by public utilities in this city, and to see that all franchises and permits granted by the city are faithfully performed and observed.

L. Public Buildings. It shall be the duty of the city administrator and he shall exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks and all other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the council.

M. Hours of Employment. It shall be the duty of the city administrator to devote his entire time to the duties of his office in the interests of the city.

(Ord. 390 § 12, 1983)

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

(Ord. 390 § 13, 1983)

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

(Ord. 390 § 14, 1983)

It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers and the city clerk, city engineer, city treasurer and city attorney to assist the city administrator in administering the affairs of the city efficiently, economically and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their duties as prescribed by law and ordinances of the city.

(Ord. 390 § 15, 1983)

The city administrator may attend any and all meetings of the planning commission, recreation or park commissions, and any other commissions, boards or committees hereafter created by the city council, upon his own volition or upon discretion of the city council. At such meetings which the city administrator attends, he shall be heard by such commissions, boards or committees as to all matters upon which he wishes to address the members thereof, and he shall inform said members as to the status of any matter being considered by the council and he shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the members of all commissions, boards or committees appointed by the council.

(Ord. 390 § 16, 1983)

In case of accident, disaster or other circumstances creating a public emergency, the city administrator may award contracts and make purchases for the purpose of meeting said emergency; but he shall file promptly with the council a certificate showing such emergency and the necessity for such action, together with an itemized account of all expenditures.

(Ord. 390 § 17, 1983)

To the extent permitted by the State and Federal Constitution, the city council may remove the city administrator at any time without cause.

Discretion of Council. In removing the city administrator, the council shall use its uncontrolled discretion, and its action shall be final and shall not depend upon cause for removal.

(Ord. 390 § 18, 1983)