The City Attorney shall be the chief administrative officer of the City Attorney’s Office, and shall prosecute and defend for the City of Berkeley, the Redevelopment Agency of the City and the Housing Authority of the City all actions at law or in equity, and all special proceedings for or against the City, the Redevelopment Agency or the Housing Authority. The City Attorney shall commence any legal proceedings when directed to do so by the City Manager, or the council, and shall give legal advice in writing to the Mayor, the council, the City Manager, chief officials, boards and commissions, the Redevelopment Agency or the Housing Authority, when requested to do so by them, upon questions of law arising in their separate departments, involving the rights and liabilities of the City, the Redevelopment Agency or the Housing Authority, or take an appeal to any appellate court, unless ordered to do so by the council or the City Manager. (Ord. 5990-NS § 1, 1990: Ord. 5434-NS § 2 (part), 1982: Ord. 4985-NS § 1 (part), 1977: Ord. 3069-NS § 6.02, 1949)