City Manager

The City Manager provides overall administration and direction for the City organization and is responsible for assuring that all policies and programs are effectively implemented, ensures enforcement of all laws and ordinances and oversees the preparation of special studies and reports.

In addition, the City Manager is responsible for preparing and submitting a proposed, annual operating budget to the City Council for review in May.  The fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.  Public hearings on the proposed budget are held in June and the Council must adopt a final budget no later than June 30th.

Economic and Community Development Department

This department oversees the administration and coordination of the following divisions:

Economic Development, Housing and Community Development, Parking Operations, Planning and the Redevelopment Agency

Economic Development Division

Provides the support and resources necessary to promote and maintain quality development within the City, and to provide the coordination necessary to improve the processing and regulatory functions that assure continued growth and development within the City

Housing & Community Development

Responsible for the administration of the Division of Housing and Community Development:  Including Redevelopment Agency and HOME program housing development, acquisition and rehabilitation programs and; Community Development Block Grant Programs for commercial and residential revitalization and social service grants management.

Parking Operations Division

Manages and administrates the use, maintenance and growth of the public parking spaces and public parking lots located within the downtown.

Planning Division

Under the supervision of the Chief Planner, this division is responsible for proposing policies, which guide long-range plans for the growth and development of the City.  The division processes applications for new developments, facilities and rehabilitation to ensure conformance with city zoning and subdivision ordinances.  The planning division staff provides guidance on all phases of planning, including zoning changes and land-use permits.  The division also provides staff assistance to the Planning Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Design Review Board.

Redevelopment Agency Division

Provides a stronger economic base and increased economic and housing opportunity for the City and its residents through the use of redevelopment tools targeted to designated blighted areas.

This department is responsible for ensuring that adequate controls are maintained over the use of the City’s funds.  Service components include maintaining the City’s accounting system, auditing bills, managing the payroll function and purchasing procedures, issuing business licenses, and collecting occupancy taxes and other City fees.  Property taxes are collected by the County Assessor and remitted to the City.

The Fire Department is staffed by 79 sworn and 15 non-sworn personnel.  The department provides residents and local businesses with protection from fire, natural disasters, hazardous materials and emergency medical incidents through direct response, public education, code development and enforcement.

The Fire Department is the only department in San Mateo County presently providing emergency medical care via its own fire rescue ambulances, staffed with two licensed paramedics

The Department participates in mutual aid agreements with all San Mateo County for fire services protection.

Fire Prevention/Code Enforcement

This division promotes and ensures a safe living and working environment, maintains community standards by providing general, technical and professional services to the citizenry/business community through fire engineering, fire preparedness and code enforcement efforts.

The Human Resources Department is responsible for managing and coordinating recruitment and examination; classification and compensation; benefits; occupational health and safety, including workers’ compensation claims processing; training and human resource development; employee recognition programs; and internal communications functions.  The Human Resources Department also is responsible for conducting negotiations with employees and management regarding interpretation of labor agreements and various codes and regulations; and serving as a resource to employees, their families, applicants for employment, and the general public on human resource-related matters.

The Information Technology Department designs, implements and maintains the citywide network; it sets standards for all users’ hardware to assure system compatibility; supports user hardware and assists with the training of employees in the use of various common software and assists departments in planning for their particular unique technology needs.

Recreation Division

Under the policy direction of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Cultural Arts Commission, this Department provides a variety of programs to the community, including youth and adult sports, licensed child care and playgrounds, seasonal and summer camps, classes and special events, senior services, adult day care, aquatics, picnic and building rentals, and cultural arts.  City-owned facilities utilized for these programs include the Municipal Services Building, Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Building, Westborough Recreation Building and Pre-School, Siebecker Center, Orange Pool and Recreation Building, Magnolia Center, and a portion of the Community Learning Center.  A variety of picnic areas and ball fields are scheduled for activities organized by the Department, as well as for private and co-sponsored use.  The Department receives support from a non-profit group, the Friends of Parks and Recreation.

Administration Division

The administration division works closely with the Maintenance Services Department in maintaining the city’s parks and recreation infrastructure, accomplishing renovations and upgrades, and planning for acquisition of new property and new parks improvements.  Funds sought for these improvements include developer “park-in-lieu fees”, grant funds, and capital funds as available through the general fund.  Renovation of all of the city’s playgrounds, construction of Alta Loma Park and Avalon Park, and major improvements in Orange Memorial Park has been completed in recent years.  Pending available funding, future projects will include continued progress in Orange Memorial Park, improvements to Westborough Park, and phased construction of the SSF/BART Linear Park.

In addition to the direct provision of services listed above in the Recreation Division, the Department facilitates thirteen non-profit “co-sponsored” groups that provide recreation and community services in city facilities, including Pee Wee Baseball, United Youth Soccer League, Pinto/Mustang League, SSF Mother's Club, AARP, Aquatics Club, Girl’s Softball, Youth Baseball Manager’s Association, Tennis Club, Widow and Widower’s Club, Italian American Citizen’s Club, Senior Club, and the Historical Society.

This Division is responsible for maintaining and improving streets, sidewalks, bridges, sanitary and storm drains, catch basins and related public works.  It maintains traffic signals, paints, marks and post signs and other indications for the expeditious and safe movement of traffic.  It also maintains all City-owned, motorized equipment and specialized gear, such as pumps, compressors, gasoline and diesel powered equipment.

There are 79 sworn and 37 non-sworn employees in the Police Department.  In addition to law enforcement and crime prevention, the Department operates the emergency communications system, which dispatches police, fire and medical personnel, participates in community meetings and advises attendees on safety techniques, operates a canine unit, operates a school liaison program and provides traffic safety and enforcement programs.  The Department also has a Reserve Police Office Unit and a Police Explorer Post.

The Public Works Department is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Engineering, Public Works, Maintenance and Water Quality Control Divisions, directing and administering their activities in accordance with accepted public administration and municipal standards, coordinating the interest of private and public developers and those of the general public, in formulating the City’s Capital Improvement Program and administering the Storm Water Management and Solid Waste Management Programs.