The city attorney shall:
(A) Advise Council and others. Advise the Council or its committees, the Mayor, or department heads when requested, upon all legal questions arising in the conduct of city business.
(B) Prepare ordinances. Prepare or revise ordinances when so requested by the Mayor or by the Council or any committee thereof.
(C) Give opinions; provide representation. Give his or her opinion upon any legal matter or question submitted to him or her by the Council, any of its committees, the Mayor, department heads, Planning Commission, or the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(D) Attend Council meetings. Unless unavoidably detained, attend all Council meetings in their entirety for the purpose of giving the Council any legal advice requested by its members.
(E) Prepare legal instruments. Prepare for execution all contracts and instruments to which the city is a party and shall approve, as to form, all bonds required to be submitted to the city.
(F) Prosecute offenders and defend the city and its agents. Propose, when authorized by the Council, all charges and complaints against the city, and appear in the appropriate court in the prosecution of, every person charged with the violation of a city ordinance or of any regulations adopted under authority of the charter.
(G) Settlement of claims. Have the power to adjust, settle, compromise, or submit to arbitration any action, causes of action, accounts, debts, claims, demands, disputes, and matters of favor of or against the city or in which the city is concerned as debtor or creditor, now existing or which may hereafter arise, not involving or requiring payment to exceed $1,500, and with the permission of the Mayor may do likewise in matters not involving or requiring payment to exceed $5,000 provided the money to settle claims generally has been appropriated and is available therefor.
(H) Make reports.
(1) Immediate report of decision. Immediately report to the Mayor and Council the outcome of any litigation in which the city has an interest.
(2) Annual report of pending litigation. Make an annual report to the Mayor and Council, as of March 1, of all pending litigation in which the city has an interest and the condition thereof.
(I) Control legal services incidental to Council action. Have charge of all legal services auxiliary to Council action in connection with the appropriating of property to public use and the levying of assessments.
(J) Keep records.
(1) Suits. Keep a complete record of all actions in which the city had or has an interest, giving the names of the parties, the court where brought, the nature of the action, the disposition of the case (or its condition if pending), and the briefs of counsel.
(2) Opinions and titles. Keep a complete record of all written opinions furnished by him or her and of all certificates or abstracts of titles furnished by him or her to the city or any department thereof.
(K) Deliver records to successor. Deliver all records, documents, and properties of every description in his or her possession, belonging to his or her office or to the city, to his or her successor in office, who shall give him or her duplicate receipts therefor, one of which he or she shall file with the Finance Director.
(L) Represent departments. Represent all departments, divisions, and agencies of the city in any proceedings before courts or administrative agencies.
(M) Appoint assistant city attorney. Appoint the assistant city attorney and those other employees of the Department of Law authorized by Council.
(N) Participate in investment. Participate together with the Mayor and Finance Director in decisions regarding the investment of city funds as authorized by ordinance and R.C. §§ 731.56 through 731.58.
(1980 Code, § 30.26) (Ord. 3073, passed 2-11-1974)