The powers and duties of the City Attorney are to:
(A) Attend any regular or special meeting of the Council at which he or she is requested to be present;
(B) Upon request, formulate drafts for contracts, forms and other writings which may be required for the use of the city;
(C) Keep in proper files a record of all official opinions and a docket or register of all actions prosecuted and defended by the City Attorney accompanied by all proceedings related to said actions;
(D) Upon request, give his or her opinion in writing upon all questions of law relating to municipal matters submitted by the Council, the Mayor, members of the Council individually, municipal boards or the head of any municipal department;
(E) Prepare those ordinances which the Council may desire and direct to be prepared and report to the Council upon all ordinances before their final passage and publication;
(F) Act as attorney for the city in all matters affecting the city’s interests and appear on behalf of the city before any court, tribunal, commission or board. He or she shall prosecute or defend all actions and proceedings when so requested by the Mayor or Council;
(G) 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;
(H) Make a written report to the Council and interested department heads of the defects in all contracts, documents, authorized power of any city officer and ordinances submitted to him or her or coming under his or her notice;
(I) After due consideration, offer a written opinion on and recommend alterations pertaining to contracts involving the city before they become binding upon the city or are published; and
(J) Not appear on behalf of any city officer or employee before any court or tribunal for the purely private benefit of said officer or employee. He or she shall, however, if directed by the Council, appear to defend any city 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.
(Ord. 112-10, passed 7-8-1975)