The office of the City Manager of the City of West Hollywood
is hereby created and established. The City Manager shall be appointed
by the Council solely on the basis of executive and administrative
qualifications and ability and shall hold office at and during the
pleasure of the Council. No person elected to membership on the City
Council shall, subsequent to such election, be eligible for appointment
as City Manager until one year has elapsed after such person has ceased
to be a member of the City Council.
(Prior code § 2100; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
In case of the absence or disability of the City Manager, the
City Council may designate some duly qualified person to perform the
duties of the City Manager during the period of absence or disability
of said City Manager.
(Prior code § 2102; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
The Council shall appoint the City Manager, and at any time
prior to the expiration of any applicable employment agreement, may
remove the City Manager by three members voting affirmatively for
such removal. The Council, in removing the City Manager, shall use
its uncontrolled discretion and its action shall be final, and shall
not depend upon any particular showing or degree of proof.
(Prior code § 2103; Ord. 85-21, 1985; Ord. 21-1153U § 2, 2021; Ord. 21-1154 § 2, 2021)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the City Manager shall not be removed from office nor may the notice provided for in Section
2.04.040 be sent to the City Manager during or within a period of ninety days next succeeding any general municipal election held in the city at which election a member of the Council is elected. The purpose of the provisions of this section is to allow any newly-elected member of the Council or a reorganized Council to observe the actions and ability of the City Manager in the performance of the powers and duties of the office. After the expiration of such ninety-day period, the provisions of Section
2.04.040 shall apply and be effective.
(Prior code § 2104; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
The City Manager shall receive such compensation as the City
Council shall from time to time determine and fix, and said compensation
shall be a proper charge against general funds of the city or against
such funds as may be indicated by the City Council.
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 only be made, however,
when a verified itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for
which reimbursement is requested has been presented to the City Council
and by said City Council duly approved and allowed.
(Prior code § 2105; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
The City Manager shall furnish a corporate surety bond to be
approved by the Council in such sum as may be approved by the Council,
and shall be conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties
imposed on the City Manager as herein prescribed.
(Prior code § 2106; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
The City Manager shall be the administrative head of the city
government 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 the City Manager's control. In addition to the general duties
and powers as administrative head, and not as a limitation thereon,
it shall be the City Manager's duty and the City Manager shall have
the power:
a. To see
that the laws of the State of California pertaining to the city and
all laws and ordinances of the city are duly enforced and that all
franchises, permits and privileges granted by the city are faithfully
observed;
b. To appoint,
remove, promote and demote any and all officers and employees of the
city, except the City Attorney and subject to any applicable personnel
rules or regulations, and to exercise control over and to supervise
in general all departments and divisions of the city government and
all appointive officers and employees thereof except the City Attorney;
c. To attend
all meetings of the City Council and its committees unless excused
therefrom by the City Council;
d. To recommend
to the City Council for adoption such measures or ordinances as the
City Manager deems necessary or expedient;
e. To keep
the City Council at all times fully advised as to the financial condition
and needs of the city;
f. To prepare
and submit to the City Council the annual budget and to administer
it after adoption;
g. To purchase
or cause to be purchased all supplies for all of the departments or
divisions of the city. No expenditure shall be submitted or recommended
to the Council except upon report or approval of the City Manager;
h. To make
investigations into the affairs of the city, and any department or
division thereof, and any contract or the proper performance of any
obligation running to the city;
i. To investigate
all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration
of the government of the city and in regard to the service maintained
by public utilities in the city, and to see that all franchises, permits
and privileges granted by the city are faithfully observed;
j. To exercise
general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, streets,
and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction
of the City Council;
k. To devote
his or her time as required by the duties and interests of the city;
l. To make
reports and recommendations as may be desirable or as requested by
the City Council;
m. To serve
in any appointed office or as head of a department within the city
government to which the City Manager may be qualified when appointed
thereto by the City Council and to hold and perform the duties thereof
at the pleasure of the City Council;
n. To perform
such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be delegated
from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the City Council.
(Prior code § 2107; Ord. 85-21, 1985; Ord. 19-1076 § 2, 2019)
The City Manager shall be an ex-officio member of all boards
and commissions appointed by the Mayor or the City Council pursuant
to law, with a right to participate in all deliberations or actions
by voice but without vote.
(Prior code § 2108; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
It shall be the duty of all subordinate officers, and of the
City Treasurer, and the City Attorney, to cooperate with, and assist
the City Manager in administering the affairs of the city most efficiently,
economically and harmoniously so far as may be consistent with their
duties as prescribed by law and the ordinances of the city.
(Prior code § 2109; Ord. 85-21, 1985)
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 members thereof
shall give orders to any subordinates of the City Manager.
(Prior code § 2110; Ord. 85-21, 1985)