All powers of the municipality not specifically vested in other offices by this Charter reside in Council, which shall determine all matters of general policy by ordinance or resolution, and may delegate the administration of municipal affairs to the Manager holding him or her responsible for his or her performance. The Manager shall be accountable to the Council and the Council to the citizens. Among other powers, Council may:
(1) Appoint and remove the Manager and establish his or her salary by ordinance and appoint an acting Manager when necessary.
(2) Adopt an Administrative Code to establish administrative departments and define their duties and procedures, and after consultation with the Manager to adopt a personnel classification and salary plan for all municipal employees.
(3) Adopt an annual appropriation ordinance based on the municipal budget and delegate its enforcement to the Manager.
(4) Authorize the levy of taxes and the issuance of municipal bonds, as provided in this Charter.
(5) Inquire into the conduct of any officer or employee in his or her public duties and make investigation of an office, department or agency of the municipality, and for these purposes Council may issue subpoenas and require the production of books and papers
(6) Appoint and remove for cause the members of all boards and commissions created by this Charter.
(7) Create any additional board or commissions it considers necessary or desirable and appoint and remove for cause the members thereof.
(8) Adopt and modify a comprehensive plan for the municipality.
(9) Adopt and amend an official map of the municipality.
(10) Regulate the use of real estate in the municipality in the interests of the health, safety, morals, welfare and convenience of its inhabitants.
(11) Regulate subdivision platting and development.
(12) Employ a Certified Public Accountant to audit the municipal accounts or those of any officer, when such audit is considered necessary, except that a general audit of the municipal accounts shall be made at least biennially, or more frequently as required by the Auditor of State. The audit made by the Auditor of State may be accepted as satisfying the audit requirement.
(13) Grant public utility franchises by ordinance passed by a vote of not less than five-sevenths of the members of the Council. No such ordinance shall be passed as an emergency ordinance.
(14) Promote moderately priced housing within the municipality.
(15) Authorize the rehabilitation of blighted areas, in cooperation with federal, state or municipal authorities, on recommendation of and according to plans prepared by the Municipal Planning Commission.
(16) Appropriate and expend public funds to pay the cost of providing information to the public in connection with elections on tax levies, bond issues, Charter amendments and other public questions.
(Amended 11-5-91; 11-6-01; 11-2-21)