There shall be a Law Department which shall be responsible for
all of the legal affairs of the City and for the supervision and coordination
of all activities of all City agencies to ensure, insofar as it is
possible so to do, that City agencies act, at all times, in conformity
with law.
The Law Department shall be responsible for the coordination
of all legal and law-related activities of the City government and
shall include, but is not limited to, the following functions:
A. Advise officers: advise the Mayor, the City Council or its committees,
and the heads of all departments, agencies, boards, and commissions
on all matters relating to their official powers, duties and functions.
B. Review ordinances: be responsible for the review of all ordinances
and resolutions as requested by the Mayor or the City Council. The
Law Department shall advise the City Council as to the form and sufficiency
of all ordinances prior to their adoption.
C. Give opinions: render legal opinions upon any question of law submitted
in writing by the Mayor, the City Council, or the heads of all departments,
agencies, boards, or commissions.
D. Attend Council meetings: An attorney assigned to the Law Department
shall, as requested by the presiding officer of the City Council,
attend any meetings of the City Council and any meetings of committees
of the City Council.
E. Prepare legal instruments: prepare or review and approve all contracts,
deeds, documents and instruments prior to the execution thereof by
or on behalf of the City, its departments and agencies.
F. Prosecute offenders and defend officials: prepare, when authorized
by the Mayor, all charges and complaints on behalf of the City, and
all departments, agencies, boards, or commissions of the City, and
appear in the appropriate court in the prosecution of every person
charged with the violation of a City ordinance or of any regulations
adopted under authority of the Charter or ordinances, or by virtue
of its authority; appear on behalf of the City and all departments,
agencies, boards, or commissions of the City in defending every action
brought against it or them in connection with the official business
of the City.
G. Appeals: conduct and prosecute appeals from orders, decisions or
judgments affecting any interest of the City as the City Solicitor
may, in the exercise of discretion, determine to be necessary or desirable.
H. Settlement of claims: have the power to adjust, settle, compromise
or submit to arbitration any action, causes of action, accounts, debts,
claims, demands, disputes and matters of favor of or against the City
or in which the City is concerned as debtor or creditor, now existing
or which may hereafter arise, not involving or requiring payment to
exceed $5,000, and with the permission of the Mayor may do likewise
in matters not involving or requiring payment to exceed $10,000, provided
the money to settle claims generally has been appropriated and is
available therefor.