The duties of the City Attorney shall be as follows (per Iowa Code § 372.13(4)):
(A) If requested, the City Attorney shall attend every regular meeting of the City Council and attend those special meetings of the City Council at which the City Attorney is required to be present.
(B) The City Attorney shall, upon request, formulate drafts for contracts, forms, and other writings which may be required for the use of the city.
(C) The City Attorney shall keep in proper files a record of all official opinions and a docket or register of all actions prosecuted and defined by the City Attorney accompanied by all proceedings relating to said actions.
(D) The City Attorney shall, upon request, give an opinion in writing upon all questions of law relating to municipal matters submitted by the City Council, the Mayor, members of the City Council individually, municipal boards, or the head of any municipal department.
(E) The City Attorney shall prepare those ordinances when the City Council may desire and direct to be prepared and report to the City Council upon all ordinances before their final passage by the City Council and publication.
(F) The City Attorney shall act as attorney for the city in all matters affecting the city’s interest and appear on behalf of the city before any court, tribunal, commission, or board. The City Attorney shall prosecute or defend all actions and proceedings when so requested by the Mayor or City Council.
(G) (1) The City Attorney shall not appear on behalf of any municipal office or employee before any court or tribunal for the purely private benefit of said officer or employee.
(2) The City Attorney shall, however, if directed by the City Council, appear to defend any municipal officer or employee in any cause of action arising out of or in the course of the performance of the duties of his or her office or employment.
(H) The City Attorney shall sign the name of the city to all appeal bonds and to all other bonds or papers of any kind that may be essential to the prosecution of any cause in court, and when so signed the city shall be bound upon the same.
(I) The City Attorney shall make a written report to the City Council and interested department heads of the defects in all contracts, documents, authorized power of any city officer, and ordinances submitted to said City Attorney or coming under said City Attorney’s notice.
(J) The City Attorney shall, upon request, after due examination, offer a written opinion on, and recommend alterations pertaining to, contracts involving the city before they become binding upon the city or are published.
(Prior Code, § 2-3-7)