(a) Upon a majority vote of members of Council, the President of Council is hereby directed to and shall appoint such committee or committees to perform and conduct any investigation into the conduct or operation of any city official or department of the city government. Upon the appointment of any such committee, the Council President shall notify Council through its Clerk, in writing, of the individual members appointed to such committee, the date that the investigation shall commence and the purpose for which such investigation shall be held.
(b) The President of Council shall be the presiding officer of any committee undertaking any investigation within the city and Council shall appoint and provide the presiding officer with special legal counsel and the counsel so appointed shall advise the presiding officer and Council on any and all questions of law.
(c) All proceedings before any such committee by the Council President shall be recorded and transcribed and the transcripts shall be dealt with in the manner determined by a majority of the committee with regard to the use or release of the evidence, testimony or information contained in the same.
(d) The committee hearings shall be held in such manner and at such times as the presiding officer shall direct and shall be closed door hearings or public hearings as the presiding officer shall direct, based upon the subject matter to be under investigation or discussed by such committee.
(e) For the purposes of securing witnesses, testimony or evidence any such committee shall have the power and authority to issue subpoenas or attachments to compel the attendance of witnesses and/or produce any documents or evidence deemed necessary by such committee.
(f) The committee shall endeavor to conclude any such investigation within 30 days from the date of its appointment and shall advise Council of any conclusions, findings or recommendations in a written report to the entire Council.
(Ord. 6680, passed 1-7-1975)