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Editor's note–Former article 9.1200 pertaining to the city administrator and deriving from Ordinance 212 adopted 5/15/07, was amended by Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025.
Serves as the chief administrative officer of the city; assures that all laws and city ordinances are enforced; manages, directs and coordinates activities of all department heads and subordinate officers and employees, and performs other duties as assigned.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
The city administrator has been and may hereafter be appointed by the majority vote of the city council for an indefinite term or for a term determined by the city council. The present city administrator has, and any future city administrator shall be chosen by the city council solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to actual knowledge in, or knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office hereafter set forth.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
The city administrator serves at the will of the city council and as a municipal officer may be removed or suspended in accordance with Texas Local Government Code 22.077.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
The city administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the city, may head one or more departments, and shall be responsible to the city council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. To that end, the city administrator shall have the power and shall be required to:
(a) 
General Supervision.
To execute, on behalf of the city council, its administrative supervision and control of such affairs as the city as may be placed in his charge, or which are not otherwise provided for by the city council.
(b) 
Personnel and Organization.
To appoint with consent of the mayor, competent, qualified officers and employees to the administrative service (which term is inclusive of all positions excepting the city attorney, city judge and chief of police) and to dismiss, suspend and discipline such officers and employees in accordance with such policies as may from time to time be set forth by the city council; to transfer employees from one department to another, consistent with the policies of the city council; to recommend to the city council such reorganization of officers, departments, or divisions as may be indicated in the intertest of efficient, effective and economical conduct of the city's business and to effect such reorganization when authorized by appropriate ordinance, resolution, or motion of the city council; provided, however, that no department head shall be appointed until the city council has approved such appointment, excepting that a tentative appointment may be made subject to the approval of such appointment by the city council at its next regular meeting following the making of such appointment and excepting further, that no appointment of those officers may be made to of the offices excluded above, appointment of those offices being with the exclusive control of the city council. The city administrator is required to consult with the department head of the department involved in any decision to hire, dismiss, suspend, or discipline any employee. If the department head does not concur with the city administrator's decision, the decision of the city administrator shall be binding unless the department head shall appeal such decision to the city council at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(c) 
Authority over Officers and Employees.
To control, order and give directions to all heads of departments and to subordinate offices and employees of the city under his jurisdiction through their department heads.
(d) 
Compensation Plan.
To prepare and recommend to the city council from time to time desirable revisions of the compensation plan of the city.
(e) 
To Aid City Council.
To attend all meetings of the city council and to report upon and discuss any matter concerning the affairs of the department, services or activities under his supervision upon which, in his judgment, the city council should be informed, or upon which his views or opinions are requested by the city council. It is not intended by this subsection to restrict unduly the privilege of any department head or other employee from addressing the city council directly, provided that said party first directs the issue to the city administrator and/or mayor.
(f) 
Carry Out Council Decisions.
To carry out on behalf of the city council its policies, rules, regulations and ordinances related to the administration of the affairs of the city, its department, division and services.
(g) 
Budget.
To create and prepare a detailed, proposal municipal budget and to submit the same to the city council before the August meeting of each calendar year, and to offer his/her recommendations as to such increases, decreases, cancellations, transfers, or changes and any of the items included in said proposed budget as in his/her judgment should be before adoption of the final budget; to be responsible for the administration of the budget after its final adoption.
(h) 
Finance Officer.
To be responsible for maintaining and developing sound annual budget, work with city secretary to prepare for annual city audit and serve as the city's investment officer; will also prepare quarterly investment reports to present to the council in January, April, July, and October of each year.
(i) 
Purchasing.
As agent for the city council, to exercise the power of approval or rejection of expenditures for all departments, divisions, services, and offices of the city government, in accordance with the municipal budget adopted by the city council, or to designate some other officer or employee of the city to so act.
(j) 
Public Improvements.
To develop and organize public improvement projects and programs, and to aid and assist the city council at the various departments, services, and offices of the city in carrying out the same to a successful conclusion.
(k) 
Recommendations to the Council.
To recommend to the city council for adoption such measures and ordinances as the city administrator deems necessary and expedient.
(l) 
Studies and Reports.
To make such surveys, studies, reports and recommendations as the city administrator may deem desirable on any matter affecting the interests of the people or city or as may be requested by the city council.
(m) 
Council Agenda.
To assist the city secretary with the preparation of the agenda for all regular, special or adjourned meetings of the city council, in accordance with the ordinances or resolutions establishing rules for the city council.
(n) 
Other City Offices.
To serve in any appointed office within the city government to which the city administrator may be qualified, when appointed thereto by the city council and told and to perform the duties thereof at the pleasure of the city council and without further compensation except as expressly provided by the city council at the time of such appointment or thereafter.
(o) 
Enforcement of Laws.
To see to the enforcement within the city of the laws of the state and all laws and ordinances of the city.
(p) 
Contracts, Franchises, etc.
To investigate and see to the faithful performance and observation of all contracts of the city, and of all franchises, permits, licenses, and privileges granted by the city and to report any and all violations to the city council.
(q) 
Citizen complaints.
To investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of city government; to adjust all proper grievances within the scope of authority provided by the city laws and policies and to report to the city council all injustices suffered by reasons of defects or omissions in the laws, policies or practices of the city which he is not authorized to rectify.
(r) 
Public Property.
To exercise general supervision over all public buildings, public parks, and other public property which are under the control and jurisdiction of the city council, when the general supervision thereof in not specifically delegated to a particular officer; and to exercise general supervision over all city-owned public utilities operated within the city.
(s) 
Community Relations.
To explain to the public the actions, purposes and policies of the city government.
(t) 
Community Projects.
To cooperate within lawful limits with all community organizations whose aim and purpose it is, in whole or in part, to advance the spiritual and material interests of the city and its people, and to provide them, within lawful limits, with assistance in such aim and purpose through the city government.
(u) 
Contracts.
To execute, in the name of the city council and the city any contract authorized or approved by the city council, unless the city council shall expressly provide for other manner of execution of such contract.
(v) 
Other Duties and Powers.
To perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are necessarily incident to the above powers or as may be assigned or delegated to him from time to time by action of the city council.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
(a) 
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 officer or employee of the city under the supervision of the city administrator. The city administrator shall take his orders and instructions from the mayor and the city council body as a whole, and no individual members of the council shall give orders or instructions to the city administrator. Any subordinate officer or employee receiving orders or instructions contrary to this section shall report the same in writing immediately to the city administrator, and the city administrator shall promptly forward a copy or summary of such report to each member of the city council and mayor. He shall likewise promptly advise each member of the city council and mayor of any orders or instructions received by him contrary to this section.
(b) 
It is not intended by this section to restrict unduly the privilege of a member of the city council of requesting of the city administrator, but not of any other officer or employee under his supervision, to prepare a report dealing with city business or municipal affairs, if such report can be compiled without undue dislocation of city activities and within the expenditure of considerable quantities of time by city personnel.
(c) 
The city administrator shall act as the agent of the council in the discharge of its administrative functions but shall not exercise any policy making or legislative functions whatsoever nor attempt to commit or bind the council, any member thereof, to any action, plan or program requiring official council action. It is not intended by the chapter to grant any authority to, or impose any duty upon, the city administrator which is vested in or imposed by general law or valid city ordinances in any other city commission, board, department, officer or employee.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
In the discharge of his duties as city administrator, the person holding such position shall endeavor at all times to exercise the highest degree of tact, patience, and courtesy in his contact with the public, with the city council, and all city commissions, boards, departments, officers and employees, and shall use his best efforts to establish and maintain a harmonious relationship among all personnel employed in the government of the city, to the end that the highest possible standards of public service shall be continuously maintained.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
The city administrator shall receive such compensation as the city council shall fix from time to time by ordinance or resolution.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)
Three years of responsible experience in municipal government administration or similar administration field. Skilled in effectively communicating with people of diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, including appointed and elected officials and employees. Skilled in public speaking. Expertise in negotiation, coordination and delegation.
(Ordinance 272 adopted 3/18/2025)