(A) There is hereby established the Office of City Administrator for the city.
(B) A qualified person shall be appointed City Administrator of the city by a majority vote of those persons authorized to vote on any question before the City Council. The City Administrator shall be chosen by the City Council solely upon his or her executive and administrative qualifications and upon his or her experience and knowledge. The City Administrator must establish a residence in the city not later than 90 days following his or her selection by the Council. No member of the City Council shall be eligible for appointment as City Administrator during the term in which he or she was elected, nor within one year after the expiration of his or her term.
(C) The City Council may remove the City Administrator from office at any time by majority vote of its members. If requested, the governing body shall grant the City Administrator a public hearing within 30 days following notice of removal. During the interim period, the governing body may suspend the City Administrator from duty, but shall continue his or her salary and, if removal becomes final, shall, except in cases of dismissal for failure to properly carry out the powers and duties set out in this chapter or any amendment hereto, pay his or her salary for two calendar months following the final removal date.
(D) The City Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the city. He or her may head one or more departments of the city and shall be responsible to the City Council for the proper administration of all the affairs of the city. To that end, he or she is empowered and required to:
(1) (a) Appoint and, when necessary for the orderly and/or efficient administration of the city, suspend or remove all officers and employees of the city, except as otherwise provided by the city ordinances or state or federal law and except as he or she may authorize the head of a department or office to appoint, suspend or remove in the department or office; and
(b) With the advice and consent of the City Council to appoint and remove all heads of departments within the city, except the Fire Department, Police Department and the Judicial Department;
(2) To be the budget officer and as such prepare and submit to the City Council, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a budget of proposed expenditures for the ensuing year, showing in as much detail as is practicable the estimated amounts of required by month for the efficient operation of each department of the city government and the reasons for the estimated expenditures and make and file a budget as required by state and federal law;
(3) Prepare and submit to the City Council at the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year;
(4) Cause the City Council to be advised of the financial condition and future needs of the city and make recommendations as he or she may deem desirable on a monthly basis at the regular meeting of the City Council;
(5) Recommend to the City Council a schedule of pay for each appointive office and position in the service of the city, including minimum, intermediate and maximum rates.
(6) Recommend to the City Council from time to time the adoption of measures which he or she deems necessary or expedient to promote the health, safety or welfare of the citizens and visitors to the city or for the improvement of administrative services;
(7) With approval of the City Council, consolidator or combine offices, positions, departments or units under his or her jurisdiction; (The City Administrator may head one or more departments.)
(8) Act as chief purchasing agent of the city, and supervise the purchase of all materials, supplies and equipment for which funds have been provided for in the annual budget of the city; negotiate and let contracts necessary for operation or maintenance of city services where budgeted in amounts up to $5,000; to receive sealed bids for purchases or contracts in excess of $5,000 and present them to the City Council for approval; advise the City Council on the advantages and disadvantages of contract and bid proposals; (No purchase shall be made, contract let or obligation incurred for any item or service with exceeds current budget appropriation without a supplemental appropriation by the Council. The Administrator may issue the rules governing purchasing procedures within the administrative organization as the City Council shall approve.)
(9) Supervise the enforcement of all laws and ordinances of the city;
(10) Investigate the affairs of the city or any department or division thereof and investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the government of the city, and in regard to service maintained by the public utilities in the city, and see that all franchises, permits, and privileges granted by the city are faithfully observed, except the Fire Department, Police Department and the Judicial Department;
(11) Perform other and further duties as may be required by the City Council which are not inconsistent with the ordinances of the city, laws of the state or of the United States; and
(12) Attend unless otherwise authorized by the City Council, all meetings of the City Council and give his or her input on all matters before the City Council when requested to do so.
(E) Except for the purpose of inquiry, the City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the City Administrator and the neither the Council, or its members shall give orders to any subordinates of the City Administrator, either publicly or privately.
(F) In case of accident, disaster or other circumstance creating an urgent public necessity, the City Administrator may award contracts, with City Council for approval, and advise the City Council on the advantages and disadvantages of contract and bid proposals. No purchase shall be made, contract let or obligation incurred for any item or service with exceeds current budget appropriation without a supplemental appropriation by the City Council. The Administrator may issue the rules governing purchasing procedures within the administrative organization as the Council shall approve.
(Ord. 110-88, passed 10-20-87)