The City Council is the legislative branch of the city government as well as its policy-making body. The council is made up of aldermen, or councilmembers who are elected by the district they represent. The Council has the authority to pass municipal ordinances and budgets, make appropriations, and even set local tax rates in many cases. 

The powers and duties of the Mayor and City Council are contained in state law and City ordinances, resolutions and regulations.  In carrying out their statutory duties, the City’s elected officials do the following:

Establish policies for the effective and efficient delivery of municipal services to the City. Appoint and remove if necessary, by majority vote, the City Manager. Establish goals, objectives and performance measures for the City Government and the City Manager. Create departments, divisions, bureaus, offices and advisory committees necessary for the operation of the City Exercise legislative oversight over the City Manager, professional staff, consultants, citizen advisory committees and all other employees, volunteers and officers appointed or retained by the City. Work with citizen advisory committees established by the City Council to formulate recommendations to the City Council on policies, projects and spending allocations.   Participate in community strategic and long-range planning. Adopt a General Plan that contains a land-use element; circulation element; open space, conservation and Recreation element; urban boundary element, noise element, public services and facilities element, safety element and housing element,   Adopt master plans for water, wastewater, storm drainage, parks and municipal facilities  Approve all zoning changes, subdivisions and commercial and industrial site plans. Approve all development agreements with residential, commercial and industrial developers. Adopt the annual City budget. Approve expenditures of City funds. Promote good relations with federal, state, county, and other municipal government agencies.  The Mayor and City Council will take an active role in working with appropriate officials on Inter-jurisdictional issues and regional problems affecting the residents of Livingston. Serve on regional and state-wide boards, committees, commissions and task forces to advance and protect the interests of the residents of Livingston.