Every such commission shall make a full semiannual report to the city council of its actions for the preceding six months, including the rules and regulations promulgated and in force, and it may include in such report any recommendations affecting the police and fire departments. Copies of such semiannual report shall be kept in the files of the commission as a part of its permanent records. The city council may at any time call upon the commission for a report on any special matter, and the commission shall provide a full and complete report in keeping with such request. Effect of provisions of article upon powers of city council. No clause or provision of this article shall be so construed as to deprive the city council of such municipality of its control over the operations of the police and fire departments or the right to prescribe and require the performance of the duties of the personnel of such departments, nor so as to deprive such city council of the right to control the finances and fix the number of employees in the departments and the compensation to be paid each and to exercise the exclusive right to purchase all equipment and supplies for such departments.
Article is cumulative.
It is not intended by this article to repeal any existing laws as they may affect municipalities of this State, but to extend and enlarge the powers of such municipalities as may fall within the population limitations of this article, and as may elect to create such civil service commission by appropriate ordinance.