HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLO What May 2017
History of San Luis Obispo 49
Joseph A. Carotenuti
City Historian/Archivist
In 1911, the “new” Charter City of San Luis Obispo came into legislative being. In part a response to what were
seen as less-than-satisfactory civic functions, there was also an element of optimism that the now mature
municipality (5000 residents) would embraced a more efficient form of self-management. Of course, no one could
know that by the end of the decade, a new world political order was called into being after the Great War (to change
again by the Second Great War). Both would impact the small central coast community. However, that is another
story for another day.
The Charter invested heavily in the person elected mayor. To date, 21 have served in the office. As to duties (Article
4) other than “general oversight” of departments, the mayor was charged with the enforcement of all ordinances,
the “faithful performance” of all contracts, supervision of public utilities and with providing an annual address to
the City Council. A major duty was the examination of books by employing an accountant with “unlimited privilege
of examination” of any and all income and expenditures. This seems an attempt to be sure all income and
expenditures were accurate.
The same article included duties for the mayor pro tempore. The designation was similar to today’s as in 1911, the
City Council chose a vice-president from its members who would serve in “the temporary absence or disability of
the mayor.” If both were absent, the three remaining councilmembers were free to choose one to preside over the
meeting.
If the vice-president could have duties as mayor, he also was a commissioner. Article V directed municipal business
into four departments:
Finance and Revenue
Public Health and Safety
Public Works
Public Supplies
Each council member was a “foreman” for a department
and was expected to take “active management and
control” of such. As commissioner, the council member
could nominate any employees for a department but
ratification of employment was to be by the entire
council. However, discharge was at the sole discretion
of the department commissioner. It was not unusual for
the council to defer action on any department item if the
designated commissioner was not present.
Additionally, the chief appointed officials for the city were enumerated as the treasurer, attorney, collector, engineer,
chief of police, street superintendent, fire chief, and five library trustees (who received no salary). Except f or the
last listed, all remain in city administration today. In 1973, the city library merged with the county system. A major
departure from the pioneer days of San Luis Obispo was that no staff member was to retain any fees paid for city
services.
The Commissioner of Finance and Revenue was also an ex-officio member of the Board of Education. Public
Education will be discussed later as in 1911, it was a department of the city.
In a very early community issue recently in national news, elected officials were restricted as to employment for
one year after leaving office if their anticipated employer had a contract with the city.
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com 5/2017
HISTORY of SAN LUIS
OBISPO