The general duties of the Legal Department are as follows:
(A) Prosecute and defend suits. Appear for the city, prosecute and defend all causes in all the state or federal courts and any administrative proceeding in which the city is a party or interested;
(B) Represent the city. When requested to do so by the Mayor or the Council, or when the interests of the city require, appear for the city before any other court or tribunal and prosecute or defend all actions or proceedings in which the city may be a party or interested;
(C) Prosecute and defend. Prosecute or defend all actions and proceedings brought by or against any city officer in his or her official capacity or any city employee growing out of acts connected with his or her employment;
(D) Give opinions. When requested, give an opinion in writing upon all questions of law submitted by the Mayor, the Council or any member thereof, or by the heads of any city department now existing or hereafter created;
(E) Draft contracts, forms and the like. When requested, prepare drafts of contracts, forms and other writings which may be required for use by the city;
(F) Prepare ordinances. Prepare ordinances as the Council from time to time may direct and examine and report in writing to the Council whenever so requested an opinion as to the validity of ordinances previously passed by present or former City Councils, or of proposed ordinances, prior to their final passage by the Council;
(G) Perform other duties. Perform other and further duties as are now or may hereafter be required of the Legal Department or the members thereof by the Iowa Code, other ordinances of the city, or state or federal law;
(H) Advise Council. Advise the Council or its committees or any city officer or any commission or board, when requested, upon all legal questions arising in the conduct of city business;
(I) Attend Council meetings. Attend all Council meetings for the purpose of giving the Council any legal advice requested by the Council, the Mayor or any city officer;
(J) Prepare legal instruments. Prepare for execution all contracts and instruments to which the city is a party and approve, as to form, all bonds and insurance required to be submitted to the city;
(K) Prosecute offenders. Prepare all charges and complaints against and appear in the appropriate court in the prosecution of every person charged with the violation of a city ordinance or any regulations adopted, or with the commission of a misdemeanor, and, in any prosecution for violation of any regulation adopted by any board or commission created under authority of the Council, act under the directions of any board or commission;
(L) Settle claims. Have the power to adjust, settle, compromise or submit to arbitration any action, causes of action, accounts, debts, claims, demands, disputes and matters in favor of or against the city or in which the city is concerned as debtor or creditor, now existing or which may hereafter arise, subject to the approval of the Council;
(M) Make reports. Report the outcome of any litigation in which the city has an interest to the Mayor and Council;
(N) 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 in the levying of assessments; and
(O) Keep records of suits. Keep a complete record of all suits 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.
(1999 Code, § 20.02)