(July 3, 2007) -- With discussion and voting in closed session, followed by an action publicly reported at the start of the July 3 Council meeting by Mayor Bob Foster, the City Council has named LB Police Chief to serve as interim City Manager until the Mayor/Council selection process of a permanent City Manager (to succeed retired City Manager Jerry Miller) is completed.

A significant announcement became apparent when the Council and Mayor were nearly a half hour later in entering the Council Chamber after their closed session. At about 5:25 p.m., Mayor Foster offered perspective on the process as well as reporting out the action Council action.

Mayor Foster said Assistant City Manager Christine Shippey is a candidate for the permanent City Manager position...and indicated that's the reason why she's not being named Interim City Manager. Having Ms. Shippey serve as interim City Manager while she's a candidate for the post might discourage other candidates outside LB City Hall from applying since they might assume that the Council will (as it has in the past) hire from within, Mayor Foster said.

Mayor Foster said -- and reiterated several times -- that he believes Ms. Shippey would make a very good City Manager. He said the decision not to name her Interim City Manager is a reflection of the fact that she's a candidate for the post..

City Attorney Bob Shannon reported that Councilmembers voted in the closed session 8-1 (Schipske dissenting) to invoke Section 300 of the City Charter in commencing the City Manager selection process. City Attorney Shannon said the vote to name Chief Batts interim City Manager was 9-0.

The item as agendized said in pertinent part: "Closed session pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957 to deliberate and to consider appointment of City Manager."

Section 300 of the City Charter states in pertinent part, "The City Council shall appoint a City Manager who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City...The City Council shall appoint the person deemed best qualified on the basis of executive and administrative capabilities, with special reference to experience in, and knowledge of, accepted practices with respect to the duties of the office as set forth in this Charter. The City Manager shall he appointed for an indefinite period and cannot be removed from office except by a vote of five (5) members of the City Council."

Section 302 of the City Charter specifies the City Manager's powers and duties:

The City Manager shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To direct and supervise the administration of all Manager-directed departments of the City.
(b) To appoint, suspend and remove all City employees in both the classified and unclassified service; except that for the classified service, such powers shall be pursuant to the Civil Service provisions of this Charter, Civil Service rules, regulations and ordinances; and except the City Clerk’s Department and the elective officers and their appointees and such officers and employees as shall be subject to appointment by the City Council.
(c) To see that all laws, ordinances, orders, resolutions, contracts and franchises are enforced and executed.
(d) To attend all City Council meetings or councilmanic committee meetings; and to have the right to participate in the discussion without vote.
(e) To prepare and submit the annual budget; and to keep the City Council fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City, including the filing of an annual and interim financial reports.
(f) To submit such reports as the City Council may require concerning the operations of manager directed departments, and to recommend to City Council the adoption of measures deemed advisable.
(g) To perform such other duties as are specified in the Charter, by law or required by City Council.

No, we don't know (yet) who'll be serving as Interim Police Chief while Chief Batts serves as Interim City Manager...but it's clear that in his Managerial position, he'll be making that call.

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