The city manager shall be chosen by the council solely on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to his or her actual experience in, or knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of the office as hereinafter set forth. At the time of appointment, he or she may, but need not, be a resident of the city or state, but during his or her tenure of office he or she shall reside within the city.

(Acts 1977, No. 71, p. 78, § 4.01.)