Note: Prior ordinance history: prior code 2-60 through 2-67, CS 153.
A. 
There is established in the unclassified service of the county the position of chief executive officer (CEO). The duties and responsibilities of the position of CEO are herein specifically defined. The CEO shall act under the supervision of the board of supervisors and be subject to its direction. Wherever in federal or state law reference is made to an administrative officer of a county, the position of CEO shall be deemed such officer.
B. 
The board of supervisors expects the CEO to exercise overall responsibility for sound and effective management of county government. The CEO shall comply with all county policies.
C. 
The county organizational culture, structure and management systems must ensure that:
1. 
The board of supervisors acts primarily on establishing a strategic vision, goals, policies and budgets to meet legal mandates and the needs of county residents; on carrying out its legislative and decision-making responsibilities; and on communicating with and serving the citizens of the county;
2. 
The CEO acts primarily on effective overall management of county resources; long-range financial, facilities and organizational planning; ensuring that county departments are producing services and results consistent with board goals, policies, budgets and legal mandates; improving management and information systems to guarantee most effective use of county personnel, money, facilities, and equipment; and other specific duties assigned to the executive office;
3. 
The board of supervisors encourages a relationship with department heads on matters of policy, and encourages them to work closely with the board and CEO formulating effective policy through effective management of a policy process;
4. 
The CEO acts as the board's representative on matters of management. The board should provide the CEO with the policy direction, authority, and resources to carry out budgeted programs. The CEO is charged with ensuring the effective implementation of board policy, management of all county resources, and accountability for results in accord with board goals, policies and budget allocations.
D. 
Executive team management and collaboration should be encouraged by the CEO. The board and CEO recognize the unique legal responsibilities and voter accountability of elected county executives. All departments must demonstrate management accountability for the resources allocated to them by the board of supervisors.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992; Ord. CS 891 §1, 2004; Ord. CS 1089 §§1, 2, 2010)
The CEO shall be appointed by and serve as an at-will employee at the pleasure of the board of supervisors. The CEO may be removed from office, at any time, without cause or notice, by a majority vote of the board of supervisors.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992; Ord. CS 891 §2, 2004)
The salary of the CEO shall be established by the board of supervisors. The CEO is a county officer. The CEO's salary shall be paid bi-weekly by the auditor-controller in the same manner as the salaries of other county employees are paid. The CEO is granted and is entitled to all the benefits conferred upon county executive management employees relating to salary increases, sick leave, vacation, and holidays and by the County Employees' Retirement Law of 1937. The CEO is entitled to participate in the county's retirement system in the same manner and under the same membership rules as all other county employees. The board of supervisors may elect to provide an employment contract for the CEO upon employment.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992; Ord. CS 891 §3, 2004; Ord. CS 1089 §3, 2010)
The CEO shall be chosen upon the basis of knowledge and skills in public administration, demonstrated administrative ability, and knowledge of, public budgeting, personnel, finance and organization. The CEO also shall be chosen on the basis of the person's executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to the person's actual experience in, or the person's knowledge of common accepted practices with respect to the duties as hereinafter set forth. The CEO shall not engage in any business, business venture or serve as an officer in any corporation or business entity during his or her employment with Stanislaus County.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992; Ord. CS 891 §4, 2004; Ord. CS 1089 §4, 2010)
A. 
The CEO is accountable for the effective administration and management of all governmental affairs of the county which may legally be placed in its charge or control.
B. 
The chief executive officer shall:
1. 
Attend all meetings of the board of supervisors, except when excused; prepare and set the agenda for board of supervisors meetings, and make recommendations on board agenda items; propose necessary revisions of the county code in conjunction with the county counsel; make periodic reports to the board on county matters;
2. 
Ensure that administrative policies, regulations, and operating programs are implemented; coordinate interdepartmental activities; assist department heads in solving problems that inhibit efficient operations within a department or create friction among departments; in cases of interdepartmental disputes, mediate and seek a resolution of conflict;
3. 
Implement the board of supervisors' legislative advocacy program, including the initiation of legislation approved by the board of supervisors that will benefit the county and county government, and the analysis of proposed state and federal legislation; make recommendations to the board of supervisors for positions on proposed legislation; review all department head requests involving legislative activities; and hire and direct the activity of any county lobbyist, subject to board of supervisors approval and budget authority;
4. 
Represent the board of supervisors in the county's intergovernmental relationships, in accordance with board policies and instructions. Represent the county with media and in public information matters;
5. 
Assist the board of supervisors in the development of the county goals and program priorities, assign responsibility for implementation, provide regular evaluation of progress, and recommend corrective action when necessary;
6. 
Conduct continuous research in administrative management practices to create greater efficiency and economy in county government and take appropriate actions based on the results; develop or recommend to the board of supervisors plans to improve county operations and to prepare for future county growth and development;
7. 
Serve as the chair of the Stanislaus Multi-Agency Coordination (StanMAC) Group. The StanMAC Group provides policy guidance, resource prioritization, and coordination for interagency and intergovernmental issues regarding incident management policies, priorities and strategies;
8. 
Supervise the overall operation of the board office and staff.
C. 
Without limiting the foregoing grant and delegation of powers, duties and responsibilities, the CEO has the authority and is required to:
1. 
As county budget officer, supervise and direct the preparation of the annual county budget. In the performance of this duty, the CEO shall review and evaluate all departmental requests and all items in the recommended budget including expenditures, revenues and reserves. The CEO shall submit the recommended budget to the board of supervisors together with a written report and recommendations which shall be based on board of supervisors policy direction, revenue projections, budget targets, and proposed goals, objectives, work programs and projects developed by the various departments;
2. 
Evaluate and report on a quarterly basis the annual budget adopted by the board of supervisors, and county government expenditures and revenues, to assure that throughout the fiscal year such revenues and expenditures are consistent with the annual budget and necessary and proper. All requests for changes in the annual budget shall first be submitted to the CEO who shall transmit them to the board of supervisors together with recommendations; provided, however, pursuant to Section 29125 of the Government Code, the CEO is hereby granted the authority to approve transfers and revisions within an appropriation;
3. 
Repealed;
4. 
Supervise the personnel department;
5. 
Repealed;
6. 
Annually review the performance of the duties of all department heads, with the exception of elected officials and county counsel, based upon mutually agreed to goals and objectives and approve compensation adjustments in accordance with demonstrated performance and consistent with county policy and practice; confer with department heads as necessary to discuss performance in meeting annual goals and objectives;
7. 
Appoint, suspend or remove, after consultation with the board of supervisors, all department heads, except elected officials or those for whose appointment state law makes other provision, including county counsel (Government Code Section 27641), agricultural commissioner (Food and Agricultural Code Section 2181 et seq.), chief probation officer (Penal Code Section 1203.6), and director of child support services (California Family Code Section 17304). Appointments shall be on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications as determined by screening and selection procedures comparable to those used for other unclassified management personnel;
8. 
Perform such investigation, studies or surveys as the board of supervisors may designate or that the CEO deems necessary;
9. 
Recommend to the board of supervisors such transfers, reassignments or consolidations of county governmental functions and services as are necessary and proper;
10. 
Supervise and direct the preparation and maintenance of a county administrative code which sets forth the policies and procedures of the board of supervisors regarding the administrative affairs of the county, including the procedure for review of departmental matters by the CEO prior to the submission of such matters to the board of supervisors. The CEO shall utilize executive orders as appropriate to provide administrative direction to departments;
11. 
Prepare and recommend to the board of supervisors such plans and proposals which in the judgment of the CEO are necessary for the solution of problems created by development and growth of the county;
12. 
Provide management training and develop leadership qualities among department heads to build a county management team that can plan for and meet present and future challenges, as well as providing orientation and training of new county supervisors, members of boards, commissions and committees, and new department heads;
13. 
Supervise various functions as may be reviewed and determined by the board of supervisors to be advantageous to be directed centrally;
14. 
Be responsible for effective and efficient communications throughout the county organization;
15. 
Prepare and submit to the board of supervisors, at the end of each calendar year, a report on the finances and administrative activities of the county for the preceding year, together with such recommendations as may be appropriate to provide for the betterment of public services;
16. 
Have charge of all county property, buildings, works, and improvements and prepare a capital improvement plan with annual updates;
17. 
Oversee all county insurance programs and be responsible for risk management and safety operations;
18. 
Oversee and approve requests by county departments and offices to conduct operations and activities on non-county owned property provided the activities directly benefit the general purposes of the county and the requesting department or office, and provided that, after consultation with the county counsel and county risk manager, the benefit of conducting such activities is balanced against exposure to the risk of liability that may be reasonably associated with the activity. The chief executive officer shall also consult with any other department or agency that may reasonably be affected by the activity or operations, including, but not limited to, the county office of emergency services, sheriff's department, department of public works, department of environmental resources, department of public health, and the department of planning and community development.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992; Ord. CS 530 §1, 1993; Ord. CS 749 §§1, 2, 2001; Ord. CS 1044 §1, 2008; Ord. CS 1089 §§5—12, 2010; Ord. CS 1125 §1, 2012; Ord. CS 1150 §1, 2014; Ord. CS 1288 §2, 2020)
The chief executive officer shall:
A. 
Perform such reviews, evaluations, studies or surveys as the board of supervisors or the CEO may deem necessary; periodically evaluate departmental programs and after consultation with the department head, submit recommended changes to the board where changes are indicated;
B. 
Evaluate and make recommendations to the board of supervisors in regard to department proposed programs; recommend approval or modification based on merit.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992)
In the performance of the duties and responsibilities designated herein, the chief executive officer, with prior approval of the board of supervisors, may retain the services of such consultants, experts or advisors as deemed necessary.
(Ord. CS 503 §1, 1992)
A. 
Within the budget approved for the CEO's office, and within available resources, the board of supervisors, to the best of its ability, shall provide the CEO with such personnel, equipment and services as may be necessary in the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of the CEO.
B. 
The CEO and staff shall provide technical assistance and support to the board of supervisors and its department operations.
(Ord. CS 503 §2, 1992; Ord. CS 891 §5, 2004; Ord. CS 1089 §13, 2010)
Whenever the term chief administrative officer is used in this code or reference is made to the chief administrative officer or the chief administrative office, these terms shall mean the same as chief executive officer or chief executive office.
(Ord. CS 520 §1, 1993)