Form of Government

City Council & Manager Government

The City is under the City Council/City Manager form of government. The City Council hires 2 of the principal officials of the City, the City Manager and the City Attorney. The City Manager is the administrative head of the City government chosen by the Council without regard to political consideration and solely with reference to his/her executive and administrative qualification, with the special reference to his/her actual experience in, and his/her knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office as herein set forth. He/she need not be a resident of the State of California at the same time of his/her appointment, but promptly thereafter, shall become and thereafter remain during his/her incumbency an actual resident of the City.

City Attorney as Legal Advisor

The City Attorney is the legal advisor of the Council and all other City officials, boards and departments and, when requested in writing for legal opinion by any City official or head of any department concerning City business, his/her opinion must be given in writing. He/she prosecutes all violations of the provisions of this Charter, City ordinances and such state misdemeanors as the City may elect to prosecute.