Location
Description
The City of Half Moon Bay has an exciting opportunity for the position of City Clerk!
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026.
ABOUT THE CITY
The City of Half Moon Bay is a Bay Area coastal community of approximately 12,500 residents and is located 25 miles south of San Francisco. The City is governed by a five-member elected City Council and utilizes the council-manager form of government. The City Council appoints a City Manager who is responsible for the oversight of daily operations and provides leadership for the City’s programs. The City currently employs 45 full-time employees in the following departments: City Manager’s Office, Administrative Services, Community Development, and Public Works. The City contracts Public Safety with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department.
The city and surrounding Coastside are a thriving agricultural, fishing, tourism, and recreational destination. There is a rich culture of diverse traditions and multi-generational families who have lived in Half Moon Bay for well over 100 years. In any given neighborhood, you will find farmers, high-tech entrepreneurs, and artists living amongst each other as one community.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The City Clerk plans, organizes, and directs all functions and responsibilities of the City Clerk's office as specified by the City Manager and as required by law. This is a Non-Represented Confidential Position. The incumbent reports directly to the City Manager.*
Important and Essential Duties
The City Clerk performs the following duties which may include, but are not limited to:
- Coordinates and prepares agenda for City Council and designated commission meetings. Reviews agenda items for compliance with legal requirements.
- Organizes completed staff reports. Reproduces and distributes agenda packages to appropriate individuals and organizations.
- Ensures the City Council meeting room is in proper order for all Council meetings.
- Attends City Council and designated commission meetings, acts as recording secretary and prepares minutes promptly following the meetings.
- Prepares "action" letters and appointments for follow-up activity resulting from City Council meetings.
- Establishes and maintains a reminder or follow-up system to ensure continued items are placed on the appropriate City Council agenda.
- Maintains a comprehensive general index of the official meeting minutes and files of all city records, including City Council actions for follow-up and/or filing, maintenance and storage.
- Administers oaths of office to elected and/or appointed officials.
- Takes and certifies affidavits and dispositions pertaining to city affairs.
- Prepares proper attestation for adopted ordinances and resolutions.
- Posts and distributes completed documents in accordance with established procedures.
- Maintains the Municipal Code and establishes supplemental procedures in order to update and republish the Code as required.
- Coordinates, plans, and conducts regular and special consolidated municipal elections in coordination with the County of San Mateo Elections division. Oversees campaign and Fair Political Practices Commission related filings according to established procedures and State law for elected officials and designated employees.
- Coordinates and/or performs all clerical functions for the City Council.
- Certifies action taken by the City Council regarding conveying or receiving property. Files documents, as required, with the County Recorder.
- Manages the citywide records management program, according to the Council-adopted Retention Schedules.
- Serves as custodian of the official City Seal and archives.
- Maintains custody of official records including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, deeds, minutes, and certifies copies as required.
- Attests, publishes, indexes and files ordinances and resolutions.
- Oversees the publication of legal notices, bid notices, postings, and other mailings.
- Coordinates the appointments to city boards, commissions, and committees.
- Prepares, administers, and monitors assigned budget.
- Updates City Council-related web pages on City website, as needed.
- Trains, evaluates, supervises and disciplines staff assigned to the City Clerk function.**
*The City is currently conducting an Organizational Study. The City Clerk’s office reports directly to the City Manager; however, this reporting structure may change based on the results of the study.
**Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind of the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
Ideal Candidate
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
• All facets of city clerk operations and municipal services.
• Modern records management principles and practices as well as the California Public Records Act.
• Government and Municipal code, the Ralph M. Brown Act, Elections Code, Campaign Reform Act and the Political Reform Act.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment.
• Business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
Skill to:
• Provide exceptional communication skills in personal and public settings.
• Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications.
• Operate an array of automated office equipment.
• Take and transcribe dictation at a speed required for successful job performance.
• Type 50 words per minute accurately.
Ability to:
• Direct and coordinate municipal elections.
• Attend night meetings and take and transcribe accurate minutes.
• Work independently on detailed and complex issues, while keeping the City Manager and City Attorney informed.
• Be politically astute and capable of making professional recommendations within a political environment.
• Communicate clearly and understandably both verbally and in writing.
• Interpret and apply departmental rules and policies.
• Prepare correspondence and memoranda.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships.
• Be able to sit and work long hours and travel to meetings and conferences as
needed.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Sufficient education and experience to satisfactorily perform the essential and important duties of this position are required. A typical qualifying background would be a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, records management, or a closely related field, and three years of increasingly responsible experience in local government records management, and by performing duties as a City Clerk or Assistant/Deputy City Clerk. Additional experience as a City Clerk or Assistant/Deputy City Clerk may be substituted for the college degree on a year for year basis up to two years.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
It is essential to be physically capable of performing the essential job functions for this classification and to possess physical stamina and mental alertness.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND REGISTRATIONS
Possess, or obtain within six months of hire, an appropriate valid California Driver’s License. Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) certification by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks is required. Notary certification is desired.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- May be required to work odd and unusual hours in the performance of duties and during emergency situations.
- Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is often a sedentary office classification, some activities may require extended standing or walking between work areas. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Working in an office environment is required in this position. The incumbent must travel to and from work site. Will be required to interact with customers with varying dispositions. Special events may require exposure to varying weather conditions.
Benefits
BENEFITS PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Retirement
- CalPERS Program
- CLASSIC members will participate in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) 2% @ 55, single highest year. Employees pay 7% of member rate on a pre-tax basis.
- NEW (PEPRA) members hired on or after January 1, 2013, will participate in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) 2% at 62, highest 3 years average. Employees pay 8.25% of member rate on a pre-tax basis.
- Deferred Compensation Programs – voluntary participation in Mission Square or CalPERS 457 programs.
- The City will match fifty cents ($0.50) for every dollar that the employee contributes, up to an employee contribution of 6% of the employee’s salary.
- City Paid Health Benefits Allowance – The City participates in the CalPERS Health Plans and contributes a monthly allowance of $1,900. The City also pays for employee dental and vision insurance plans, up to family coverage.
- Retiree Medical – The City contributes the minimum contribution required by the Public Employees Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) towards the purchase of medical insurance.
- Flexible Spending Accounts – The City offers flexible spending accounts (FSA) program.
- Life Insurance and Long-term Disability – Life insurance equivalent to annual salary and long-term disability insurance are provided.
- Vacation Leave – 96 hours per year, consideration may be given for prior years of service.
- Holidays – 14 paid holidays, one of which may be taken as a floating holiday.
- Administrative Leave – 96 hours per year, City Manager may grant additional 12 hours in recognition of unanticipated efforts.
- Sick Leave – 96 hours per year, incentive program to earn additional vacation leave up to 4 days per year available.
- Employee Assistance Program – program provided.
- Education Incentive – up to $3,000 in reimbursement of eligible costs for job-related educational classes.
- Technology - City will provide a technology stipend of $100 per month.
Special Instructions
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, MAY 8. 2026, 11:59 P.M.
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this career opportunity, you must submit a complete online application, resume, cover letter, and answers to the supplemental questionnaire. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an incomplete online application. Incomplete applications and/or supplemental questionnaire will be rejected. Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Applicants with the most relevant qualification will be invited to an interview.
Examination and Selection Process: The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Applicants are requested to provide their resume upon applying. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the City Manager). First round interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of May 18.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Half Moon Bay is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Half Moon Bay is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (650) 726-8273 or hr@halfmoonbay.gov.