Chapter 2.14 — CITY ATTORNEY

The office of the City Attorney is hereby established. It shall consist of the City Attorney and such assistants as may be authorized by the Council. The City Attorney shall administer the office and be responsible for the successful performance of its functions. He/she shall serve under the direct supervision and control of the City Council as its legal advisor, in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter and any contract approved by the City Council pursuant to the terms the City Charter and this Chapter. The City Council may enter into a contract with a private law firm to perform the services of City Attorney and, in that connection, may designate a City Attorney and such Assistant City Attorneys and/or Deputy City Attorneys as are deemed necessary; and references in this Chapter to City Attorney or the Office of City Attorney will include any applicable law firm and performance of said functions by any of its members or employed attorneys.

The City Attorney shall receive such compensation and expense allowance as the City Council shall from time to time determine or contract for, and such compensation shall be a proper charge against such funds of the City as the City Council shall designate.

The functions of the office of the City Attorney shall be to:

A. Advise the Council and all City officers in all matters of law pertaining to their offices and relating to City affairs;

B. Furnish legal service at all meetings of the Council, except when excused or disabled, and give advice or opinions on the legality of all matters under consideration by the Council or by any of the boards and commissions or officers of the City;

C. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and/or approve all ordinances, resolutions, agreements, contracts, opinions and other legal instruments as shall be required for the proper conduct of the business of the City and approve the form of all contracts and agreements and bonds given to the City;

D. Appear and defend the City in all matters of civil litigation involving the City and its officers and employees, except those involving insurance coverage or Workers' Compensation, or as otherwise provided by contract or direction of the City Council; and prosecute all violations of City ordinances or delegate such authority to the District Attorney;

E. Perform such other legal duties as may be required by the Council or as may be necessary to complete the performance of the foregoing functions.

The City Attorney shall have the authority to appoint Deputy City Attorneys to act as such, under the control and direction of the City Attorney. Compensation for such deputies, if any, shall be set by the City Council. The City Attorney may, with the approval of the City Council, engage the services of special counsel to assist him/her in the performance of such duties.

(Charter Section 706.)

The City Attorney's employment with the City is for no definite term or period of time, and the City Attorney serves at the will and pleasure of the City Council. The City Attorney's employment may be terminated at any time by a majority vote of the entire City Council without stating reasons or other cause or justification, without prior notice, and without right of appeal or hearing. Notwithstanding the above provisions of this Section, the City Council may enter into a written agreement with a City Attorney which contains terms of employment which may differ from the above provisions of this Section, which have been approved by the City Council and signed by a duly authorized representative of the City Council.