There is hereby created the office of City Attorney, who shall be the chief legal advisor and prosecutor of the city. The City Attorney shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Council and shall have been at the time of appointment admitted to practice and engage in the practice of law in the State of California and must be a citizen of the United States. The City Attorney shall advise all officers and agencies of the city on legal matters referred to the City Attorney, shall draft such ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other legal documents as directed by the City Council or requested by the City Manager, shall prosecute violations of city ordinances and shall act as counsel in behalf of the city or any of its officers or agencies in litigation involving any of them in their official capacity. The City Attorney shall administer the office of City Attorney subject to policies prescribed by the Council. The Council may empower the City Attorney, at the request of the City Attorney, to employ special legal counsel, appraisers, engineers and other technical and expert services necessary for the handling of any pending or proposed litigation, proceeding or other legal matter. The City Attorney shall approve, as to form, all official and other bonds given to or for the benefit of said City, and no contract shall become enforceable as against said City without the endorsement thereon of the City Attorney's approval thereof.
When the City Council determines that City Attorney is unable or unwilling to perform the duties of his office the City Council shall appoint some other qualified attorney to temporarily act in his place when in the judgment of the Council, the interest of the city require it.
(Amended by election November 5, 1991)