There shall be a department of law and a department of finance. Council may, in its discretion, establish additional city departments, offices or agencies to provide and administer city services, including but not lim-ited to public safety, planning and development, human services and public works, and may prescribe or reassign the functions of all departments, offices and agencies. Notwithstanding council's discretion to prescribe or reassign department functions as set forth in this section, no function assigned by this charter to a particular department, office or agency may be discontinued or assigned to any other unless this charter specifically permits its discontinuance or reassignment.
Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the head of each department shall be a director, appointed by the mayor, and shall serve at the mayor's pleasure. Each director shall administer his or her department in accordance with this charter, the applicable ordinances adopted by council, the rules and regulations made by the mayor, and general law, except as general law may be limited by council. Each director may, subject to applicable civil service regulations, appoint, promote, transfer, reduce or remove division heads, officers and employees within his or her department.
The department of law shall be headed by a director of law, who shall be an attorney admitted to practice law in the state, shall be a registered voter of the city, and shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of council. The director of law shall serve as chief legal adviser to council, the mayor, all boards and commissions, and all city departments, offices and agencies; shall represent the city in all legal proceedings; and shall perform any other duties prescribed by this charter, ordinance, resolution or general law, except as general law may be limited by council.
The department of finance shall be headed by a director of finance. The director of finance shall be responsible for the administration of all financial requirements called for by this charter, ordinance, resolution or general law, except as general law may be limited by council. The director of finance shall also be the city auditor.