[CC 1997 §2-21; Ord. No. 132 §1, 6-12-1950]
There shall be elected by the Board of Aldermen at its first (1st) regular session after the general City election or as soon thereafter as possible, some suitable person as City Clerk who shall hold his/her office for the term of one (1) year and until his/her successor shall be appointed and has qualified.
[1]
Cross Reference — As to elections generally, ch. 105 of this Code.
[CC 1997 §2-22; Ord. No. 132 §2, 6-12-1950; Ord. No. 656 §1, 9-30-2003]
No person shall be eligible for the office of City Clerk unless he/she shall have attained the age of twenty-one (21) and is a citizen of the United States.
Before entering upon the duties of his/her office, the City Clerk shall take the oath required of other City Officers and shall file a good and sufficient bond in the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) to be approved by the Mayor. He/she need not be a resident of the City of Oakland.
[CC 1997 §2-23; Ord. No. 132 §3, 6-12-1950; Ord. No. 574 §1, 10-26-1998]
It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to attend all meetings of the Board of Aldermen; to keep a journal and record of the minutes of all proceedings and all ordinances which may become laws and all resolutions passed by the Board; he/she shall have custody of the City Seal, the original rolls of ordinances and resolutions passed by the Board, the public records of the City and all other such papers, records and documents as may be entrusted to his/her care and the same he/she shall safely and properly keep. He/she shall record the official bonds of all City Officers and all other bonds executed to the City filed in his/her office in a book kept for that purpose. He/she shall affix the City Seal to and countersign all such public instruments, documents and papers as are required to be attested with the Seal of the City. He/she shall certify under his/her hand and Seal of the City all such documents, copies and papers in his/her office as may be required for the use of any City Officer or private citizen. He/she shall furnish to the City Collector or Board of Aldermen any record, document or paper in his/her office which either may call for to be used in any court, but for the same he/she shall take and file a receipt. He/she shall, whenever required, furnish to the Mayor or Board of Aldermen or any committee of the Board copies or abstracts of any books, accounts, records, vouchers or documents in his/her office or any information relating to the business of the City or his/her office and he/she shall at all times permit the Mayor or any member of the Board of Aldermen or any interested City Official to examine any books, papers or documents in his/her office. The City Clerk shall coordinate the City's responses to periodic State and City audits and shall also fulfill such other duties as may be assigned by the Mayor or Board of Aldermen.
[CC 1997 §2-24; Ord. No. 132 §4, 6-12-1950]
The City Clerk shall prepare and seal with the Seal of the City and countersign all commissions and other official documents which the Mayor is required to issue and shall keep a register thereof in which the substance thereof shall be noted.
[CC 1997 §2-25; Ord. No. 132 §5, 6-12-1950]
The City Clerk shall procure, sign and affix the City Seal to blank licenses for all purposes for which a license is required to be issued and shall from time to time deliver to the Collector any required number of the same of which he/she shall keep a register, where it shall be stated the number and amount thereof, for what issued and to whom delivered and for all blank licenses so delivered he/she shall take duplicate receipts.
[1]
Cross References — As to licenses generally, ch. 605 of this Code; as to gross receipts on certain utilities, ch. 610.
[CC 1997 §2-26; Ord. No. 132 §§6 — 12, 6-12-1950]
A. 
The City Clerk shall be the general accountant of the City. He/she shall examine, audit and adjust all accounts, claims and demands in favor of or against the City and shall, after such examination, certify the amount or balance due thereon, except in cases where some other officer is charged with such duty. He/she shall keep the account of the City in proper books therefor, in which the City shall be represented by the term "City revenue", which shall be charged with all money coming into the City Treasury from whatever source derived, which source shall be specified and shall be classed with all appropriations made for any purpose or account which shall be specified. He/she shall also keep in proper books therefor the accounts between the City and the City Treasurer, charging the latter with all money received into the Treasury and crediting him/her with all money paid out according to law, in each case specifying the source such money was received from and on what account paid out.
B. 
He/she shall keep in proper books therefor the accounts between the City and all officers and persons who have entrusted to them the collection of any money for the City, charging each with the amount which may be in his/her hands for collection and crediting him/her with all payments into the City Treasury.
C. 
He/she shall keep a register of all warrants drawn on the Treasury, wherein shall be stated the date, number, amount thereof and to whom and out of what funds payable.
D. 
The City Clerk shall draw and countersign warrants on the City Treasury for any money found to be due and owing by the City and for which there is an appropriation, specifying thereon the fund or appropriation out of which such warrants shall be paid, but no warrants shall be issued unless there be actually in the Treasury money sufficient to pay same.
E. 
The City Clerk shall not draw or issue warrants for the payment of any accounts mentioned in or arising under the provisions of this Article until such accounts have been examined and approved by the Mayor or Board of Aldermen, as evidenced by indorsement to that effect thereon and no warrants for the payment of money drawn by the City Clerk shall be paid by the Treasurer unless same is signed by the Mayor or Acting President of the Board of Aldermen.
F. 
When the Board of Aldermen shall have fixed the rate of taxation for any given year, the City Clerk shall make out appropriate and accurate tax books and shall therein set out in suitable columns the name of each person, the item of taxable property, as returned by the Assessor and Board of Equalization, the amount of taxes, whether general or special, due thereon and shall charge the Collector with the full amount of taxes levied and to be collected; the Clerk shall also charge the City Collector with all licenses and other duties of all kinds to be collected.
G. 
The City Clerk shall at the first (1st) regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen in March of each year render his/her account with proper vouchers to the Board who shall settle and adjust the same.
[1]
Cross Reference — As to finance and taxation generally, ch. 130 of this Code.
[CC 1997 §2-27; Ord. No. 132 §13, 6-12-1950]
The City Clerk shall have power to administer oaths or affirmations to parties in any case in which he/she may deem it necessary in the course of examination of accounts or claims presented to him/her to be audited and all oaths required by law, including oaths of office, may be administered by the City Clerk, except oaths in the Municipal Court.
[CC 1997 §2-28; Ord. No. 132 §14, 6-12-1950]
The City Clerk shall lay the verified reports and lists of the Municipal Court cases heard and tried during the preceding month before the Board of Aldermen at its first (1st) session thereafter.
[CC 1997 §2-30; Ord. No. 132 §17, 6-12-1950]
Whenever for any reason the City Clerk is unable to perform the duties of his/her office, the Board of Aldermen may appoint a temporary Clerk who shall have powers and duties of the regular Clerk as designated by the Board of Aldermen.