3.40.010 - Person to present claim.

No city officer shall, except for his own service, present any claim, account or demand for allowance against the city, or in any way, except in the discharge of his official duty, advocate the relief asked in the claim or demand made by any other person. Any person may appear before the city council and oppose the allowance of any claim or demand made against the city.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2520).

3.40.020 - Claims to be itemized.

The city council shall not hear, credit, audit, consider or allow or approve any claim, bill or demand against the city unless the same is itemized, giving names, dates, and particular services rendered, character or process served and upon who, distance traveled, character of work done, the number of days engaged, materials and supplies furnished, when and to whom and in what quantity furnished, the price therefor, and other pertinent details as the case may be. Salaries and wages of officers and employees of the city shall not be considered to be claims, accounts, bills or demands against the city under this chapter. No demand shall be audited, passed upon or allowed by the city council unless made out as prescribed in this chapter and presented and filed with the city clerk three days prior to the time of the meeting of the city council at which it is asked to be allowed.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2521).

3.40.030 - Procedures for claims and actions for money and damages arising out of tort and not based upon contract.

A. Applicability of Section. Pursuant to Section 935 of the Government Code, all claims against the city for money or damages which are excepted by Section 905 of the Government Code from the provisions of Division 3.6 of the Government Code (Section 810, et seq.), and which are not governed by any other statutes or regulations expressly relating thereto, shall be governed by the procedure prescribed in this section.

(Ord. 464 § 2, 1993).

(Ord. No. 631, § 1, 9-9-08)

3.40.050 - Audit method of approval.

Each claim or demand shall be presented to the city clerk, who shall cause the same to be stamped showing the date and time of filing, and he shall examine and verify it as to its validity, accuracy, certification, and the availability of funds for payment thereof. He shall prepare for approval, without signing, a warrant upon the city treasurer representing such demand, which warrant shall specify in whose favor it is drawn, the purpose for which it is drawn, and the amount thereof, together with the name of the fund and of the bank out of which it is payable when executed and approved. The city clerk shall note such demands and warrants which he determines should be approved or allowed upon a register book of demands and warrants, setting forth the number of the demand and warrant, in whose favor the warrant is drawn, and the amount thereof, together with dates and the name of the fund and of the bank out of which the warrant is payable, and shall certify thereon by his signature that the demands are correct as to computations and are payable out of the funds stated in the amounts set opposite their respective names.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2524).

3.40.060 - Procedure on disallowance.

The city clerk shall prepare a separate written list of all claims or demands which he fails to approve and which he believes should be rejected in whole or in part, together with his reasons therefor, and such list shall be submitted separately, together with the register book of demands and warrants, to the finance committee of the city council, who shall audit the same, and if found authorized, correct and legal, shall signify by their signatures upon the register book of demands and warrants, those payments which are approved or disapproved by the finance committee. The finance committee shall then cause all demands approved or disapproved by the finance committee, together with the register book of demands and warrants, including separate sheets of disapproved demands, if any, together with the supporting documents, to be returned to the city clerk, who shall present the same to the city council for audit and allowance or disallowance.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2525).

3.40.070 - Authorization of demands by council.

All payments presented in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be audited by the city council and, if found authorized, correct and legal, shall be allowed by the city council and ordered paid. Such action of the city council shall be evidenced by a motion entered in its minutes, stating the number of the demands allowed and the total amount thereof, and the number and the total amount of those disallowed. Any claim or demand may be allowed in whole or in part or rejected in whole or part by the city council. If any claim or demand is rejected in whole or in part, the fact of such rejection shall be plainly endorsed upon the claim or demand by the city clerk.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2526).

3.40.080 - Forms of demands and warrants—Method of drawing warrants—Manual signature required.

The city council shall by resolution prescribe printed forms for demands and warrants, and shall prescribe a method of drawing warrants or checks in payment of demands allowed or ordered paid as provided in this chapter; provided, however, that such method shall require the manual signature of at least one municipal officer who has executed an official bond to the city, covering the faithful performance by such officer of the duties of his office, as provided by Section 37203 of the Government Code.

(Ord. 62 § 1(part), 1959: prior code § 2527).