Roles of the Council
The powers and duties of the council shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
- General- All powers of the city are vested in the council except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance.
- Wards- By ordinance, the council may divide the city into wards based upon population, change the boundaries of wards, eliminate wards, or create new wards.
- Fiscal Authority- The council shall apportion and appropriate all funds, audit and allow all bills, accounts payrolls and claims, and other payment thereof. It shall make all assessments for the cost of street improvements, sidewalks, sewers and other work, improvement or repairs which may be specially assessed.
- Public Improvements- The council shall make all orders for the doing of work or the making of construction of any improvements, bridges, or buildings.
- Contracts- The council shall make or authorize all contracts, and no contract shall bind or be obligatory upon the city unless either made by ordinance or resolution adopted by the council, or reduced to writing and approved by the council, or expressly authorized by ordinance or resolution adopted by the council.
- Employees- The council shall authorize by resolution the number, duties, and compensation of employees not otherwise provided for by state law or the city code.
- Records- The council shall maintain records of its proceedings.
- Setting Compensation for Elected Officers- By ordinance, the council shall prescribe the compensation of the mayor, council members and other elected city officers. A change in the compensation of the mayor shall not become effective during the term in which the increase is adopted, and the council shall not adopt such an ordinance changing the compensation of any elected officer during the months of November and December immediately following a regular city election.