Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 3.24 Claims Against the City

No city officer shall, except for their own service, present any claim, account or demand for allowance against the city, or in any way except in the discharge of their office 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.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.010; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973)

The city council shall not hear or 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 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, and 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 chapter.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.020; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973)

All claims against the city for money or damages not otherwise governed by the Tort Claims Act, Government Code title 1, div. 3.6, pt. 3 (Government Code § 900 et seq.) or another state law (hereinafter referred to as "claims") shall be presented to the city within the time, and in the manner, prescribed by Government Code title 1, div. 3.6, pt. 3 (Government Code § 900 et seq.) for the claims to which that part applies by its own terms, as those provisions now exist or shall hereafter be amended, and as further provided by this chapter. All claims shall be made in writing and shall be verified by the claimant or by their guardian, conservator, executor or administrator. No claim may be filed on behalf of a class of persons unless verified by every member of that class as required by this section. In addition, all claims shall contain the information required by Government Code § 910. In accordance with Government Code §§ 935(b) and 945.6, all claims shall be presented as provided in this chapter and acted upon by the city council prior to the filing of any action on such claims, and no such action may be maintained by a person who has not complied with the requirements of this chapter.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.030; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 403, § 2, 2004)

Any action brought against the city upon any claim or demand shall conform to the requirements of Government Code §§ 940—949 and any action brought against any employee shall comply with the requirements of Government Code §§ 950—951.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.040; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 402, § 3, 2004)

Each claim or demand shall be presented by the city manager to the department head, if any, who authorized the same, for written approval thereof. Each claim or demand shall thereafter be returned to the city manager for their written approval. The city manager shall inform the city council in writing of any claims or demands presented against the city which fail to obtain the approval of the city manager. All such claims and demands 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.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.050; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982)

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 director of finance or their authorized representative. If any claim or demand is determined to be a proper charge against the city, the same shall be allowed only by approval by the city council of the demand/warrant register 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.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.060; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973)

If any claim or demand be approved and allowed by the city council, the director of finance shall endorse upon each of the duplicate copies thereof the words "allowed by the city council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes," together with the date the city council allowed the same and for what amount and from what fund, and the director of finance shall attest the same with their signature.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.070; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982)

If any claim or demand be approved and allowed by the city council, a warrant shall be drawn upon the city treasury for the same, which warrant shall be countersigned by the director of finance or their authorized representative, and the city treasurer or their authorized representative, and shall specify for what purpose the same is drawn and out of what fund it is to be paid.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.080; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982)

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

(Code 1981, § 3.24.090; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973)

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

(Code 1981, § 3.24.100; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973)

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 director of finance shall endorse on it. "Not approved for want of funds," with the date of presentation and the director's signature.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.110; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982)

The director of finance shall number the endorsement, register the order or demand in the director's records, and deliver it, or their order to the claimant. From delivery the order or demand bears interest at six percent per year. Orders or demands shall be paid in the order they are registered.

(Code 1981, § 3.24.120; Ord. No. 11, § 1(part), 1973; Ord. No. 152, § 1(part), 1982)