The position and office of city administrator is hereby created, and the criteria for appointment, removal, compensation, and the authorities, powers, duties and responsibility of the office of city administrator shall be as hereinafter set forth.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.020)
The city administrator shall be appointed by a majority vote of the city council for an indefinite term of office, and shall serve at the will of the city council. The city council may designate a temporary city administrator to act in the absence or disability of the city administrator.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.021)
The city administrator shall receive such compensation and benefits as may be established from time to time by the city council.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.022)
The city administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the city and shall be responsible to the mayor and city council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. To that end, the city administrator shall have the authority, duty and responsibility to:
(1) 
Prepare job descriptions for approval by the city council; delegate duties to the officers and employees of the city; discipline, up to and including termination, all employees including department heads subject to the employee’s right of appeal to the city council, provided that the city administrator may suspend the city secretary and the chief of police only after consultation with the city council, and provided further that the city administrator may not terminate the city secretary, chief of police, or any other person required by ordinance to be terminated by the city council; respond to inquiries from the press as deemed appropriate; in consultation with the mayor, supervise the day-to-day operations, functions and programs of the city; and make recommendations to the mayor and city council on any and all personnel, performance, administration, programs, projects, management, financial and general governance issues;
(2) 
Direct, coordinate, and provide oversight over all departments, programs and projects of the city in coordination and consultation with the mayor;
(3) 
On behalf of the mayor, and as requested by the mayor, perform administrative and management functions, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) 
Ensure that all applicable laws and ordinances are enforced;
(B) 
Supervision of all subordinate officers and employees of the city;
(C) 
Communicate and make recommendations to the mayor and city council for the administration and management of the city; and
(D) 
Supervise programs and projects, issue permits and perform other duties as assigned by the mayor or the city council from time to time;
(4) 
Attend all meetings of the city council except when excused, with the right to participate in the discussion but having no vote;
(5) 
Assist and consult with the mayor, the chief budget officer of the city, and prepare, review and submit to the mayor and city council prior to the beginning of each fiscal year a budget for proposed expenditures for the ensuing year together with a summary describing the important features of said budget; assist the mayor and city council with respect to the consideration of the budget; and assure the proper administration of the budget after its adoption;
(6) 
Prepare and submit to the mayor and city council as of the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year;
(7) 
Keep the mayor and city council advised of the state of the city, including the financial condition and needs of the city; provide such information and service as may be deemed necessary; and advise and assist the mayor and city council to assure the annual audit of the city;
(8) 
Provide oversight of the purchase of all materials, supplies, and equipment for which funds are provided in the budget as directed by the mayor and in accordance with applicable city ordinances and polices, including but limited to section 1.04.005(7); provided that:
(A) 
No purchase shall be made or obligation incurred for any item or service which exceeds the current departmental budget appropriations without a supplemental appropriation approved by the city council;
(B) 
No contract shall be let except by the city council;
(C) 
The city administrator shall advise the mayor and city council on the advantages or disadvantages of contract and bid proposals; and
(D) 
Subject to the veto of the mayor or modification by the city council, the city administrator may issue written rules governing purchasing procedures consistent with state law; and
(9) 
In the event of emergency, accident, disaster, situation causing city functions to be temporarily suspended, or other circumstance creating a public urgency, the city council shall call an emergency meeting pursuant to Government Code section 551.045, section 551.047, and section 551.125, as appropriate. If such a meeting is not feasible, the city administrator shall provide the mayor such assistance as may be necessary, and shall assist the mayor to award contracts and make purchases for the purpose of meeting said public urgency, including the execution of contracts that the mayor and city administrator agree are necessary prior to the next available meeting of the city council, and shall file within seventy-two (72) hours with the city council a certificate describing any such public urgency and showing the necessity for any purchases, together with an itemized count of all such expenditures.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.023; Ordinance 2013-O-450 adopted 8/8/13; Ordinance 2012-O-435, sec. 3, adopted 10/2/12; Ordinance 2017-O-511 adopted 6/8/17)
The city administrator shall be bonded in an amount determined from time to time by the city council, which bond shall be conditioned upon the good and faithful performance of the authorities and performances of the office and position of city administrator. The premium of the bond shall be paid by the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.024)
(a) 
The city administrator shall have such further authority, duties and responsibilities as reasonably implied from the terms of this division, the day-to-day authority of the mayor as expressly or impliedly delegated by the mayor, and the authority as heretofore or hereafter provided by the city council.
(b) 
The administrative and personnel duties and responsibilities with respect to the day-to-day operation of the city that are to be performed by the mayor may be expressly or impliedly delegated to the city administrator. The duties and responsibilities of the city administrator shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the day-to-day administrative and personnel duties of the mayor.
(c) 
The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city, and the city administrator shall have no authority to countermand or overrule any action or decision by the mayor, but shall communicate any material exception regarding any such action or decision to the city council. The mayor may not reverse or overrule any administrative decision or action by the city administrator, but may bring a conflict to the city council for their action.
(1995 Code, sec. 21.025)