There is created, continued and established the position of city attorney who shall be appointed by the council. He or she shall be an attorney at law, admitted to the State Bar of the state of California, and duly licensed to practice law within the state.
(Prior code § 2-1.5.01)
The city attorney shall be the legal advisor of the council and all other city officers, departments, boards and commissions. In addition to duties which may be prescribed from time to time by the council, the city attorney shall:
A. 
Draft and prepare all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases and any and all legal documents;
B. 
Attend to all legal matters, litigation and suits in which the city is a party or in which it is directly or indirectly interested;
C. 
Attend all council meetings, unless excused therefrom by the council;
D. 
Institute proceedings against municipal officers to compel them to perform a duty enjoined upon them by law;
E. 
File criminal complaints and prosecute violations of this code; and
F. 
All other duties and responsibilities as provided for in this code or the laws of the state.
(Prior code § 2-1.5.02)
The city attorney shall receive such compensation and expense allowances as the council from time to time shall determine and fix by resolution, and such compensation and expenses shall be a proper charge against such funds of the city as the council shall designate.
The city attorney shall be reimbursed for all sums necessarily incurred or paid by him in the performance of his duties or incurred when traveling on business pertaining to the city under the direction of the council. Reimbursement shall only be made however, when an itemized claim, setting forth the sums expended for such business for which reimbursement is requested, has been presented and approved by the council.
(Prior code § 2-1.5.03)
The council, by a majority vote of all of its members at a regular council meeting, may terminate the employment of the city attorney and remove him from office at any time and for any reason, except that the city attorney shall not be removed from office during or within a period of ninety days next succeeding any municipal election held in the city at which election the mayor or a member of the council is elected.
(Prior code § 2-1.5.04)