Sec. 2-385. - Duties of the clerk.
The city clerk shall, acting directly or through subordinates or designees, exercise the powers now or hereafter conferred and discharge the duties now or hereafter imposed upon the office by the laws of the state, except as hereinafter provided, and the ordinances and resolutions of the city. Such powers and duties of the clerk include, but are not necessarily limited to, each of the following:
(1) Department head. The city clerk shall be the department head of the office of the city clerk. As department head, the city clerk shall plan, assign and supervise the work of all personnel of his department through subordinate supervisors or directly. The clerk prepares the annual budget for his department. The clerk shall act as liaison between his office and private citizens, organizations, and businesses; city officials, officers, department heads, departments, boards, commissions and agencies; and other governmental entities and public agencies. Work is reviewed through audits, periodic reports, and program evaluations.
(2) Assistance to mayor. In matters related to his office and, more broadly, the operations of the city through its various departments, the clerk shall serve as an executive director of the city, directly assisting and advising the mayor in management of the city. He shall prepare special reports and attend special meetings as may be required by the mayor. The clerk shall assist and collaborate with the mayor in the development, implementation, and furtherance of city goals, plans, and policies.
(3) City council duties. The clerk shall provide support and assistance to the city council in the organization, submission, and preparation of its agendas. The clerk shall attend the meetings of the city council and keep a record of its proceedings and minutes and shall oversee the preparation of the minutes. He shall have the custody of the rules, ordinances, and resolutions of the city council and shall keep a record of them when adopted by the city council. The city clerk shall be available to councilmembers to respond to requests for information or questions related to matters under the general control of the city clerk which are pertinent to the performance of the councilmember's duties. In matters related to his office, the clerk shall prepare special reports and attend special meetings as may be required by the city council.
(4) Elections. The clerk shall coordinate, manage, and supervise the conduct of municipal elections; receive and file election statements as required by law; direct and supervise election personnel and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The clerk shall serve as absentee election manager in the conduct of municipal elections in accordance with applicable state law.
(5) Custodian of seal and records; maintenance of records. The clerk shall have the custody of the city seal and impress the seal upon all papers and documents where the seal of the city must appear. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the clerk shall be the custodian of the city's records and documents and shall attest or certify to their authenticity as appropriate. The city clerk shall maintain an appropriate system to ensure the proper filing, indexing, maintenance, storage, and disposal of city records and documents in accordance with applicable law.
(6) Publication; recordation. The clerk shall oversee the publication and postings of all official notices, ordinances, advertisements, and related matters, and shall record in the probate records legal documents, as appropriate.
(7) Attesting documents. The clerk is responsible for attesting city documents, or the execution thereof, where such formality is required or authorized.
(8) Print office; mail. The clerk shall direct the receipt and distribution of external and internal mail and directs the city's printing and supply office.
(9) Dissemination of information; communication. The clerk shall prepare and disseminate information to the public relative to public notices and other city ordinances.
(10) Budgeting and debt assistance. The clerk, as appropriate or as requested by the finance director, shall assist with the preparation of the annual budget, sales of warrants, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter referred to in this division as "debt"), and preparation of debt packages, and similar matters.
(11) Additional duties. The clerk, in addition to the enumerated duties, shall perform related work as required, and shall perform any and all duties that may be required of him by ordinance or resolution. The position classification specification developed and implemented through the department of human resources may provide for such marginal duties as may be required for the position consistent with the duties set forth herein.
(Ord. No. 23-155, § 7, 3-9-2023)
* Ord. No. 26-832, § 7 (adopted 9-24-2026; published 9-30-2026) prints "Secs. 2-348—2-452. Reserved.", a range that includes this section, which is in another division. The range is read as a misprint for 2-352, and this section is shown in effect.
