The elective officers of the City shall consist of a City Council of seven members, a City Clerk, a City Treasurer and a City Attorney, all to be elected from the City at large at the times and in the manner provided in this Charter and who shall serve for terms of four years and until their respective successors qualify. Subject to the provisions of this Charter, the members of the City Council in office at the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of their respective terms and until their successors are elected and qualified. Four members of the City Council shall be elected at the general municipal election held in 1966, and each fourth year thereafter. Three members of the City Council shall be elected at the general municipal election held in 1968, and each fourth year thereafter. No person shall be elected as a member of the City Council for more than two consecutive terms and no person who has been a member for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected a member shall be elected to the City Council more than one further consecutive term. Subject to the provisions of this Charter, the City Clerk, City Treasurer and City Attorney in office at the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of their respective terms and the qualification of their successors. A City Clerk and City Treasurer shall be elected at the general municipal election held in 1968, and each fourth year thereafter. A City Attorney shall be elected in 1966, and each fourth year thereafter.
The term of each member of the City Council, the City Clerk, the City Treasurer and the City Attorney shall commence on the first Monday following the certification of the election. Ties in voting among candidates for office shall be settled by the casting of lots.
If no candidate meets the qualifications for office of the City Clerk, City Treasurer, or City Attorney, the City Council shall fill that position by appointment until the next municipal general election in which a qualified candidate is elected.
The members of the City Council including the Mayor shall receive as compensation for their services as such a monthly salary in the sum of One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars per month. In addition, each member of the City Council shall receive reimbursement on order of the City Council for Council authorized traveling and other expenses when on official duty upon submission of itemized expense accounts therefor. In addition, members shall receive such reasonable and adequate amounts as may be established by ordinance, which amounts shall be deemed to be reimbursement to them of other routine and ordinary expenses, losses and costs imposed upon them by virtue of their serving as City Councilpersons.
(a) 
Regular Meetings. The City Council shall hold regular meetings at least twice each month at such time as it shall fix by ordinance or resolution and may adjourn or re-adjourn any regular meeting to a date and hour certain which shall be specified in the order of adjournment and when so adjourned each adjourned meeting shall be a regular meeting for all purposes. If the hour to which a meeting is adjourned is not stated in the order of adjournment, such meeting shall be held at the hour for holding regular meetings. If at any time any regular meeting falls on a holiday such regular meeting shall be held on the next business day.
(b) 
Special Meetings. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Mayor, or by a majority of the members of the City Council, by written notice to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing. Such notice must be delivered personally or by mail at least twenty-four hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice.
The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meeting. If any person entitled to such written notice files a written waiver of notice with the City Clerk, it may be dispensed with. This notice requirement shall be considered fulfilled as to any person who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes. In the event of an emergency affecting the public peace, health or safety, a special meeting may be called as provided in this section with less than twenty-four hours written notice by the Mayor Pro Tem in the Mayor's absence or by any member of the City Council in the absence of both the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem provided that the nature of the emergency is set forth in the minutes of the meeting.
(c) 
Place of Meetings. All regular meetings shall be held in the Council Chambers of the City or in such place within the City to which any such meeting may be adjourned. If, by reason of fire, flood or other emergency, it shall be unsafe to meet in the place designated, the meetings may be held for the duration of the emergency at such place within the City as is designated by the Mayor, or, if he should fail to act, by a majority of the members of the City Council.
(d) 
Open Meetings. All regular and special meetings of the City Council shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend such meetings, except that the provisions of this section shall not apply to executive sessions. Subject to the rules governing the conduct of City Council meetings, no person shall be denied the right to be heard by the City Council.
(e) 
Dissemination of Information. The City Council shall adopt rules to ensure thorough and timely dissemination of information via current technology by resolution.
(a) 
Quorum. A majority of the members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum to do business but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time. In the absence of all the members of the City Council from any regular meeting or adjourned regular meeting, the City Clerk may declare the same adjourned to a stated day and hour. The City Clerk shall cause written notice of a meeting adjourned by less than a quorum or by the City Clerk to be delivered personally or by mail to each Council member at least twenty-four hours before the time to which the meeting is adjourned, or such notice may be dispensed with in the same manner as specified in this Charter for dispensing with notice of special meetings of the City Council.
(b) 
Proceedings. The City Council shall judge the qualification of its members as set forth by the Charter. It shall judge all election returns. Each member of the City Council shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations in any investigation or proceeding pending before the City Council. The City Council shall have the power and authority to compel the attendance of witnesses, to examine them under oath and to compel the production of evidence before it. Subpoenas shall be issued in the name of the City and be attested by the City Clerk. They shall be served and complied with in the same manner as subpoenas in civil actions. Disobedience of such subpoenas, or the refusal to testify (upon other than constitutional grounds), shall constitute a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable in the same manner as violations of this Charter are punishable. The City Council shall have control of all legal business and proceedings and all property of the legal department, and may employ other attorneys to take charge of or may contract for any prosecution, litigation or other legal matter or business.
(c) 
Rules of Order. The City Council shall establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings and evict or prosecute any member or other person for disorderly conduct at any of its meetings. Upon adoption of any ordinance, resolution, or order for payment of money, or upon the demand of any member, the City Clerk shall call the roll and shall cause the ayes and noes taken on the question to be entered in the minutes of the meeting.
At the Council meeting at which any Council member is installed following any general or special municipal election, and at any time when there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the City Council shall meet and shall elect one of its members as its presiding officer, who shall have the title of Mayor. The Mayor may make and second motions and shall have a voice and vote in all its proceedings. The Mayor shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes; shall have the primary but not the exclusive responsibility for interpreting the policies, programs and needs of the City government to the people, and as occasion requires, may inform the people of any major change in policy or program; and shall perform such other duties consistent with the office as may be prescribed by this Charter or as may be imposed by the City Council. The Mayor shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council.
The City Council shall also designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore, who shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Mayor during the Mayor's absence or disability or at the Mayor's request.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, no member of the City Council shall order, directly or indirectly, the appointment by the City Manager, or by any of the department heads in administrative service of the City, of any person to any office or employment, or removal therefrom. Except for the purpose of investigation and inquiry, the members of the City Council shall deal with the administrative service under the jurisdiction of the City Manager solely through the City Manager, and no member of the City Council shall give orders to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately.
No elected department head or staff of the Office of the elected department head shall be a member of the management negotiation team for the purposes of negotiations of memorandums of understanding with the employee bargaining units.
The City Council shall fix by ordinance or resolution the amounts and terms of the official bonds of all officials or employees who are required by this Charter or by ordinance to give such bonds. All bonds shall be executed by responsible corporate surety, shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney, and shall be filed with the City Clerk. Premiums on official bonds shall be paid by the City. A blanket bond may be used if it provides the same protection as the required separate bond would provide.
In all cases wherein an employee of the City is required to furnish a faithful performance bond, there shall be no personal liability upon, or any right to recover against, the employee's superior officer or other officer or employee or the bond of the latter, unless such superior officer, or other officer or employee is a party to the act or omission, or has conspired in the wrongful act directly or indirectly causing the loss.
To become and remain eligible for City Attorney the person elected or appointed shall have graduated from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, be an attorney at law, duly licensed as such under the laws of the State of California, shall have been engaged in the practice of law in this State for at least five years prior to their election or appointment. The City Attorney shall have the power and may be required to:
(a) 
Represent and advise the City Council and all City officers in all matters of law pertaining to their offices.
(b) 
Prosecute on behalf of the people any or all criminal cases arising from violation of the provisions of this Charter or of City ordinances and such state misdemeanors as the City has the power to prosecute, unless otherwise provided by the City Council.
(c) 
Represent and appear for the City in any or all actions or proceedings in which the City is concerned or is a party, and represent and appear for any City officer or employee, or former City officer or employee, in any or all civil actions or proceedings in which such officer or employee is concerned or is a party for any act arising out of their employment or by reason of their official capacity.
(d) 
Attend all regular meetings of the City Council, unless excused, and give their advice or opinion orally or in writing whenever requested to do so by the City Council or by any of the boards or officers of the City.
(e) 
Approve in writing the form of all contracts made by and all bonds and insurance given to the City.
(f) 
Prepare any and all proposed ordinances and City Council resolutions and amendments thereto.
(g) 
Devote such time to the duties of their office and at such place as may be specified by the City Council.
(h) 
Perform such legal functions and duties incident to the execution of the foregoing powers as may be necessary.
(i) 
Surrender to their successor all books, papers, files, and documents pertaining to the City's affairs.
(j) 
Assist and cooperate with the City Manager consistent with Section 403 of the City Charter.
(k) 
Provide advice related to compliance with the City Charter to all elected and appointed officials of the City.
To become and remain eligible for City Clerk, the person elected or appointed shall have a Bachelor's Degree in business, public administration, or a related field, and hold a certification as a Municipal Clerk or obtain such certification within the first three years in office. The City Clerk shall have the power and shall be required to:
(a) 
Attend all meetings of the City Council, unless excused, and be responsible for the recording and maintaining of a full and true record of all of the proceedings of the City Council in records that shall bear appropriate titles and be devoted to such purpose.
(b) 
Maintain separate records, in which shall be recorded respectively all ordinances and resolutions, with the certificate of the Clerk annexed to each thereof stating the same to be the original or a correct copy, and as to an ordinance requiring publication, stating that the same has been published or posted in accordance with this Charter.
(c) 
Maintain separate records of all written contracts and official bonds.
(d) 
Keep all records in their possession properly indexed and open to public inspection when not in actual use.
(e) 
Be the custodian of the seal of the City.
(f) 
Administer oaths or affirmations, take affidavits and depositions pertaining to the affairs and business of the City and certify copies of official records.
(g) 
Be ex officio Assessor, unless the City Council, has availed itself, or does in the future avail itself, of the provisions of the general laws of the State relative to the assessment of property and the collection of City taxes by county officers, or unless the City Council by ordinance provides otherwise.
(h) 
Have charge of all City elections.
(i) 
Perform such other duties consistent with this Charter as may be required by ordinance or resolution of the City Council.
(j) 
Assist and cooperate with the City Manager consistent with Section 403 of the City Charter.
The City Clerk may, subject to the approval of the City Council, appoint such deputy or deputies to assist them or act for them, at such salaries or compensation as the Council may by ordinance or resolution prescribe.
To become and remain eligible for City Treasurer, the person elected or appointed shall have a minimum of five years of financial and/or treasury experience, and have either:
A Master's Degree in accounting, finance, business, or public administration; or
A Bachelor's Degree in accounting, finance, business, or public administration with certification by the California Municipal Treasurer's Association, or their successor, within three years of election or appointment.
The City Treasurer shall have the power and shall be required to:
(a) 
Receive on behalf of the City all taxes, assessments, license fees and other revenues of the City, or for the collection of which the City is responsible, and receive all taxes or other money receivable by the City from the County, State or Federal governments, or from any court, or from any office, department or agency of the City.
(b) 
Have and keep custody of all public funds belonging to or under control of the City or any office, department or agency of the City government and deposit or cause to be deposited all funds coming into their hands in such depository as may be designated by resolution of the City Council, or, if no such resolution be adopted, then in such depository designated in writing by the City Manager, and in compliance with all of the provisions of the State Constitution and laws of the State governing the handling, depositing and securing of public funds.
(c) 
Pay out moneys only on proper orders or warrants in the manner provided for in this Charter.
(d) 
Prepare and submit to the Director of Finance monthly written reports of all receipts, disbursements and fund balances, and shall file copies of such reports with the City Manager and City Council.
(e) 
Perform such other duties consistent with this Charter as may be required by ordinance or resolution of the City Council.
(f) 
Assist and cooperate with the City Manager consistent with Section 403 of the City Charter.
The City Treasurer may, subject to the approval of the City Council, appoint such deputy or deputies to assist them or act for them, at such salaries or compensation as the Council may by ordinance or resolution prescribe.
(a) 
Vacancies. A vacancy in the City Council or in any other office designated as elective by this Charter, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the City Council.
(b) 
Forfeiture. If a member of the City Council is absent from all regular meetings of the City Council for a period of thirty consecutive days from and after the last regular City Council meeting attended by such member, unless by permission of the City Council expressed in its official minutes, the office shall become vacant. If an elected City officer pleads guilty or no contest to or is convicted of a felony or any crime of moral turpitude, or ceases to be an elector of the City, the office shall become vacant. The City Council shall declare the existence of such vacancy. Any elective officer of the City who shall accept or retain any other elective public office, except as provided in this Charter, shall be deemed thereby to have vacated the office under the City Government.
(c) 
Replacement. In the event it shall fail to fill a vacancy by appointment within sixty days after such office shall become vacant, the City Council shall forthwith cause an election to be held to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(a) 
Conflict of Interest. The City Council shall adopt or approve rules and regulations regulating conflicts of interest and promoting fair dealing in all City business.
(b) 
Nepotism. The City Council shall not appoint to a salaried position under the City government any person who is a relative by blood or marriage within the third degree of any one or more of the members of such City Council, nor shall the City Manager or any department head or other officer having appointive power appoint any relative of such person or of any Council member within such degree to any such position.
This provision shall not affect the employment or promotional status of a person who has attained a salaried position with the City prior to the existence of a situation contemplated by this provision; however, Council members or officers with appointive powers in such a situation shall disqualify themselves from all decisions affecting the employment and promotional status of such person.