(A) (1) It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to act as the legal advisor of the city in all matters concerning the legal and business interests of the city, except as to such matters and duties as are imposed upon or appertain to the Office of Corporation Counsel, and furnish his or her written opinion upon questions of law when called upon to do so by the Mayor or the City Council. He or she shall keep a docket of all actions, suits or claims for or against the city, noting their progress and judgment therein.
(2) He or she shall, when his or her services are necessary, prosecute all suits brought in the name of the city before the Police Magistrate, any Justice of the Peace or other magistrate, for the recovery of any fine, forfeiture, penalty, demand or claim whatever, but he or she shall not be required to bring or prosecute any suit in any case when he or she and the court may be satisfied that the interests of the public or the city will not be subscribed thereby, or in any case where he or she and the court may be satisfied that the complaint is made maliciously, vexatiously or without probable cause. He or she shall defend the city in all actions or suits brought against it, or any of the officers thereof, in courts not of record wherein the rights, ordinances, orders or acts of the city are brought in question.
(3) It shall be his or her duty to draft all legal instruments which may be required by ordinance or otherwise, upon request so to do by the Mayor or the City Council. He or she shall cause executions to issue upon all judgments in favor of the city in courts not of record and cause the proper officer to attend to their prompt collection. He or she shall report to the Council or the Mayor all cases in which he or she shall deem it expedient to take an appeal on behalf of the city, but no appeal shall be taken without the consent of the Mayor or the City Council, and he or she shall prosecute and defend cases as may be appealed from courts not of record or any appellate court.
(4) (a) He or she shall co-operate with the Mayor and all officers of the city in the enforcement of the criminal laws of the state and the ordinances of the city.
(b) He or she shall attend all regular meetings of the City Council unless excused by the Mayor and, on request, all special meetings of the same.
(5) He or she shall also perform other professional services incident to his or her office, as may be required by the City Council or the Mayor.
(B) The City Attorney shall render aid or assistance to the Corporation Counsel in his or her performance of the duties of that office, as may be requested by the Mayor, City Council or the Corporation Counsel.
(Ord. 680, passed 5-5-1953)