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The most important single responsibility of a council member is participation at co-u-nell meetings. In =1 statutory cftics, each council member, includinor the mayror, ha S fill] a,,UthOlity tornalce and second motions, participate in discussions, and vote on every matter before the council. In a statutory city, any two council menaber, , of a five-member council or any tluee mei.-nbers of a seven- member coimcll inay call a special meeting. Care should be exercised to give proper notice, howover. t) t:� - As ihdividuals, council members have no administrative authority. They camiot give orders or otherwise supetirise city le�mplo,yeles unless specifically directed to do so by the council. The council, however, has eomplet%. au City. Tn thwity over all, administrative affairs in the Plan B cities, this authority is generally rest6eted to conductina investiaations and establishing, policies to Oe performed by the manager, Under prior law that was repealed in 2001, all members of the co-Lmcil, including inayors, were "'peace officers."' Counicil members, were authorized to suppress any "'riotous or disorderly conduct" in the streets or public places of the city. This law no to nger applies, and the mayor and individual cou.-Licil members have no L peace-officer authority. E] the counc!Fi s authority The city council is a continui.nQ body. iNcw members have no effect on the body except to Chancre its membiershI.P. , This means that all ordinances and resolutions remain in effect until the council alters or or, unill they expire through their own tenias. At any time, the council can Change any rescinds tbem, b resolution, ordinance; (..)r administrative order whether or not the individuals presently on the council are the sanic as those se -vine when the council originally took action. ti "here are two exceptions to this rule. First, the council cannot dissolve a perpet-Lial-cep etery-iDai-iitenc-i.iiee 5-ind. second, the council cannot rescind or unilaterally alter any valid. contracts. This means the law of contracts applies to the council as it does to any other party. Whclher a contract was validly made is a question of 'fact. , The followincyinfonnation outlines the major areas of council authoray and responsibility. 1. Judging the qualification and election of its own members The council evaluates the credentials of individuals who are, or who claim to be, members of the council. This power includes certifying election results,- ideteniiininor whether an individual has the InI- necessary qualifications to hold of-flee, and deciding whether a, council vacancy has occurred. 2. Set . ting and interpreting ruses governing its own proceedings The council has the -following powers: a, 'To preserve order during its. own meetings;. S. Directing the enforcement of city ordinances The council directs the enforcement of city ordinances by determining the level of law euforcement, setting qualifications for the police chief and police officers, p,urchas,ing certain types of equipmrnt for A Guod Start to Good Golvemance League of Minnesota Cities