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THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL RELATIONSHIP <br />The key concern in council—manager governments is the city manager/city council relationship and to be successful, <br />it is important that each respect the other's statutory duties and responsibilities. <br />While the council appoints and retains the full power of removal over city managers, all administrative power is <br />vested in the manager.108 The council may not interfere with the administrative duties of the manager,109 the manager <br />answers only to the council,"' and the council is accountable only to the electorate. <br />As part of the manager's administrative duties, she or he is directed to provide various forms of assistance to the <br />council to aid in its legislative decision -making process."' <br />A key element in the city council -city manager structure of city government is the administrative plan."' The creation <br />of this plan is a cooperative effort of the manager and the council, with the manager reporting and recommending a <br />plan and the council modifying and adopting it by ordinance. The plan must provide for a city clerk (who also serves <br />as the ex officio treasurer), a police chief, a fire chief, a health officer, and other officers, departments, and necessary <br />department heads."' <br />The council retains the sole power to appoint the city attorney and city judge(s).114 It also retains the power to set the <br />salary and compensation ranges by grade for officers and employees, although the manager may grant <br />compensation changes within the range set by the council "upon the basis of efficiency and seniority.""' <br />108 C.R.S. § 31-4-210. <br />109 C.R.S. § 31-4-212. <br />110 C.R.S. § 31-4-210. <br />111 C.R.S. §§ 31-4-211, 213, 215. <br />112 C.R.S. § 31-4-215. <br />113 C.R.S. § 31-4-215. <br />114 C.R.S. § 31-4-208 (The city attorney serves at the pleasure of the council, but the municipal judge only may be removed <br />"for cause"). <br />115 C.R.S. § 31-4-218. <br />Heather Balser / City of Louisville <br />Order # 42201 / tQlq�Wer Date: 10/31/2019 <br />Copyright by CML1 <br />COLORADO MUNCIPAL GOVERNMENT.' AN INTRODUCTION <br />