Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 3.04 Claims Against the City

The city desires to adopt procedures relative to the fiscal affairs of the new city and to provide for the payment of its debts as they come due.

(Prior code § 2-5.20)

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.

(Prior code § 2-5.21)

The city council shall not hear or consider or allow or approve any claim, bill or demand against the city unless the same be itemized giving names, dates, and particular services rendered, character of process served and upon whom, distance traveled, character of work done, and number of days engaged, materials and supplies furnished, when and to whom, and in what quantity furnished, the price therefor, any other pertinent details as the case may be. Claims and demands for salaries and wages of officers and employees of the city may, but need not be, presented to the city in accordance with the provisions of this code.

(Prior code § 2-5.22)

All claims against the city shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 900-935.6 of the Government Code of the state of California.

(Prior code § 2-5.23)

Any action brought against the city upon any claim or demand shall conform to the requirements of Sections 945—949 of the Government Code of the state of California and any action brought against any employees shall comply with the requirements of Sections 950—951 of the Government Code of the state of California.

(Prior code § 2-5.24)

Each claim or demand shall be presented by the city clerk to the department head, if any, who authorized the same, for his written approval thereof, and each claim or demand shall thereafter be presented to the city manager for his written approval thereof. The city manager shall inform the city council in writing of any claims or demands presented against the city which shall fail to obtain the approval of the proper department head or which shall fail to obtain the approval of the city manager. All such claims and demands, whether approved as aforesaid or not, shall be forwarded by the city manager to the city council for audit. The city council shall audit said claims and demands as required by law.

(Prior code § 2-5.25)

If the city council finds that any claim or demand is not a proper charge against the city, it shall be rejected by resolution or minute action, and the fact of rejection shall be plainly endorsed upon the claim by the city clerk or his authorized representative. If any claim or demand is determined to be a proper charge against the city, the same shall be allowed only by resolution setting forth as to each claim the name of the claimant, a brief statement of the claim, and the amount allowed. Any claim may be allowed in part and rejected in part by the city council.

(Prior code § 2-5.26)

If any claim or demand be approved and allowed by the city council, the city clerk shall endorse upon each of the duplicate copies thereof the words "allowed by the City Council of the City of Lancaster," together with the resolution number allowing the same and for what amount and from what fund and the city clerk shall attest the same with his signature.

(Prior code § 2-5.27)

If any claim or demand be approved and allowed by the city council, a warrant and/or check shall be drawn upon the city treasury for the same, which warrant and/or check shall be forwarded to the city treasurer and, if found correct, shall be manually signed by the city treasurer or city manager, and a facsimile of the mayor's or vice-mayor's signature shall be affixed thereto, whether done by manual operation or by a check-signing machine, and such warrants or checks shall be distributed by the city manager or his designee to the claimants legally entitled thereto. All demands and warrants and/or checks shall be filed in numerical order by the city manager or his designee.

(Prior code § 2-5.28)

Except as otherwise provided, no warrant shall be drawn or evidence of indebtedness issued unless there be at the time sufficient money in the treasury legally applicable to the payment of the same.

(Prior code § 2-5.29)

Upon presentation of said warrant, properly executed and endorsed, the city treasurer shall pay the same out of funds in the city treasury properly applicable to that purpose.

(Prior code § 2-5.30)

When an order or demand is not approved for want of funds and its amount does not exceed the income and revenue for the year in which the indebtedness was incurred, the city clerk shall endorse on it: "Not approved for want of funds," with the date of presentation and his signature.

(Prior code § 2-5.31)

The city clerk shall number the endorsement, register the order or demand in his records, and deliver it to the claimant, or his order. Orders or demands shall be paid in the order they are registered.

(Prior code § 2-5.32)