Charter of the City of Stockton

ARTICLE XI
THE MAYOR

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SECTION 1100. Mayor

There shall be a Mayor of the City of Stockton, elected pursuant to SECTION 602 of this Charter, who shall be the seventh member of the Council. The Mayor shall devote his or her full time to the Office of Mayor.

(Repealed and added election 03/07/2000 effective 001/01/2001; Amended Election 11/4/80 effective 12/3/80; Amended Election 11/4/86 effective 12/9/86; Amended Election 11/8/94 effective 5/22/95)

SECTION 1101. Political Leader

It is the intent of this Article that the Mayor shall be the political leader within the community by providing guidance and leadership to the Council, by expressing and communicating to those he or she serves the City’s policies and programs and by assisting the Council in the informed, vigorous and effective exercise of its powers.

(Repealed and added election 03/07/2000 effective 001/01/2001; Amended Election 11/4/86 effective 12/9/86; Amended Election 11/8/94 effective 5/22/95)

SECTION 1102. Powers and Duties

The Mayor shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To review with the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk prior to each Council meeting the items on the Council’s agenda and to add matters thereto;

(b) To make recommendations to the Council on matters of policy and programs which require Council decision;

(c) To make recommendations to the City Manager on matters of policy and programs;

(d) To direct those officials appointed by the Council to prepare and provide information to the Council on matters of policy and programs which require Council decision;

(e) To request budgetary and any other information from those officials appointed by the Council that the Mayor determines is necessary for the conduct of the Mayor’s duties;

(f) To appoint, with the advice and consent of the Council, a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, one regular member and one alternate member to each standing, special and ad hoc committee of the Council;

(g) To appoint, with the advice and consent of the Council, such advisory boards, commissions and ad hoc committees as may be necessary or desirable to advise and assist in the work of the City Council;

(h) To appoint such other advisory boards and ad hoc committees as may be necessary or desirable to advise and assist in the work of the Mayor; provided, however, that the members of such advisory boards or ad hoc committees shall not receive any compensation;

(i) To address, not less than annually, the citizens of the City concerning the current status of City affairs and articulating the policy plans which the Mayor proposes for the City during the ensuing year;

(j) To inform the citizens, at other times during the year, of any matters of policy or programs which the Mayor believes are for the welfare of the community;

(k) To recommend adjustments to the City Budget and to propose the modification or curtailment of any city service. If the Mayor recommends any increases in the City budget, the Mayor shall recommend the method of financing such expenditures. If the Mayor proposes the modification or curtailment of any city service, the Mayor shall provide specific recommendations and the reasons for such proposal;

(l) To preside at meetings of the Council and to vote as a member of the Council without power of veto;

(m) To preserve order at all Council meetings, to remove or cause the removal of any person from any meeting of the Council for disorderly conduct, to enforce the rules of the Council and to determine the order of business under the rules of the Council;

(n) To select and appoint such professional, technical and clerical employees to the office of Mayor as may be necessary or desirable to advise and assist in the work of the Mayor; provided, however, that the Mayor shall not appoint to any position any business associate or any person related to him or her or to the City Manager or to any member of the Council by blood or marriage within the third degree, except that the foregoing prohibition against nepotism may be waived by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Council if the Council finds that the proposed appointment is in the interest of the City. All such appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor in the unclassified service; and shall serve under such terms and conditions, salaries and benefits as are similar to other unclassified employees;

(o) To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Council, provided the same are not inconsistent with this Charter.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed in any way as an infringement or limitation on the powers and duties of the City Manager as Chief Administrative Officer and head of the administrative branch of the City government as prescribed in other sections of this Charter. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Mayor shall possess only such authority over the City Manager and the administrative branch as he or she possesses as one member of the Council.

(Repealed and added election 03/07/2000 effective 001/01/2001; Amended Election 5/31/32 effective 1/24/33; Amended Election 11/8/94 effective 5/22/95)

SECTION 1103. Vice Mayor

The Mayor shall nominate one (1) of the Councilmembers to serve as Vice Mayor.

(a) The term of the Vice Mayor shall commence upon ratification of the nomination by the Council and shall continue until the December 31 following the next general municipal election.

(b) During the temporary absence or disability of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall act as Mayor. In case of the temporary absence or disability of both the Mayor and the Vice Mayor, the Council shall elect one (1) of its members to be Mayor pro tempore. In case of vacancy in the office of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall act as Mayor until such vacancy can be filled as provided in this Charter.

(Added Election 03/07/200, effective 01/01/2001)