(a) The administrative officers of the city shall be the city manager, city attorney, clerk, treasurer, assessor, police chief, fire chief, and such additional administrative officers as may be created by ordinance. The council may[,] by ordinance, create additional administrative officers and may, by ordinance, combine any administrative offices in any manner it deems necessary or advisable for the proper and efficient operation of the city; but the council may not diminish the duties or responsibilities of the office of city manager. The city manager, city clerk and city attorney shall be appointed by the council for an indefinite period, shall be responsible to and serve at the pleasure of the council and shall have their compensation fixed by the council.
(b) All other administrative officers of the city, except the city manager, city clerk and city attorney, shall be appointed by the city manager for indefinite terms of office. Such officers shall be responsible to the city manager and shall serve at his pleasure. Their compensation shall be fixed by the city manager in accordance with budget appropriations and subject to approval by the council.
(c) Except as may be otherwise required by law, the council shall establish[,] by ordinance, such departments of the city as it deems necessary or advisable and shall prescribe therein the functions of each department. The city manager shall prescribe such duties and responsibilities of the officers of those departments responsible to him which are not inconsistent with this charter or with any ordinance or resolution adopted concerning such duties and authorities under authority of this charter.
(d) All personnel employed by the city who are not elected officers of the city or declared to be administrative officers under this charter, shall be deemed to be employees of the city. The head of each department shall have the power to hire and discharge the employees of his department under provisions of the civil service system provided by, and under authority of the provisions of, Chapter 19 of this charter.