(A) (1) The city authorizes and approves the hiring of a City Attorney as an independent contractor by the means of a personal services contract between the city and City Attorney. The Mayor, with the approval of City Council, shall retain a City Attorney who shall be the legal counsel of the city.
(2) Qualifications. The City Attorney shall be licensed to practice law in the state.
(1991 Code, § 2-157)
(3) Duties. The City Attorney shall be responsible for:
(a) Attendance at all regular, special, and emergency meetings of the City Council;
(b) Being available at all reasonable times to render legal opinions to the Mayor, City Council and city employees concerning their municipal duties;
(c) Preparing and reviewing all resolutions, contracts, bonds, employment agreements and other documentation or written instruments in which the city is concerned;
(d) Representing the city in all courts and administrative hearings and acting at all times as general legal counsel for the city;
(e) Preparing all ordinances and the revision of ordinances;
(f) Preparing legal opinions on matters affecting the city, as the Mayor and/or City Council may direct;
(g) Attendance at meetings involving business related to, involving, and/or affecting the city, as the Mayor and/or City Council may direct; and
(h) Attendance at department meetings as the Mayor and/or City Council may direct.
(1991 Code, § 2-158)
(4) The Mayor, with the approval of City Council, may remove the City Attorney, at will, except as otherwise provided by statute, ordinance or contract.
(5) Compensation. The monthly retainer for the City Attorney shall be fixed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. In addition to the monthly retainer, the City Attorney shall receive additional compensation as an independent contractor for all legal services and fees that exceed the monthly retainer.
(1991 Code, § 2-160)
(B) (1) The City Attorney shall represent the Mayor and the City Council collectively, and shall not represent, advise or otherwise provide service to a minority of the City Council.
(2) The City Council shall vote in open meeting to approve the personal services contract of the City Attorney.
(3) The City Attorney may also engage in the private practice of law and may hold other public or private employment.
(Ord. 982-83, passed 1-4-1982; Ord. 983-108, passed 12-27-1983; Ord. 015-185, passed 6-8-2015; Ord. passed 2-13-2023)