Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Claims Against City

All claims or demands against the City, including all claims for money or damages against the City governed by Government Code Section 900 et seq., shall be made in writing and shall set forth in reasonable detail for what such claim or demand is presented. In case of materials and supplies, they shall be accompanied by a written statement or voucher signed by the person ordering the materials or supplies for which the claim or demand is made or state thereon the requisition or purchase order number, if any, pursuant to which such claim or demand is made.

(Prior code § 2.10)

A. All claims for money or damages against the City which are exempted by Government Code Section 905 (as it now exists or is hereafter amended) from the claims procedure in Title 1, Division 3.6, Part 3 of the Government Code are specifically made subject to this claims procedure pursuant to Government Code Section 935.

B. All such claims shall be presented and acted upon within the same time limitations and in the same manner prescribed by Chapter 1 of Title 1, Division 3.6 of the Government Code (commencing with Section 900, but excluding Section 905) and Chapter 2 thereof (commencing with Section 910).

C. Without limitation to subsection A above, such claims shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Claims in connection with which the filing of a notice of lien, statement of claim, or stop notice is required under any provision of law relating to mechanics', laborers' or materialmen's liens.

2. Claims by public employees for fees, salaries, wages, mileage or other expenses and allowances.

3. Claims for which the workers' compensation authorized by Division 4 (commencing with Section 3201) of the Labor Code is the exclusive remedy.

4. Applications or claims for any form of public assistance under the Welfare and Institutions Code or other provisions of law relating to public assistance programs, and claims for goods, services, provision or other assistance rendered for or on behalf of any recipient of any form of public assistance.

5. Applications or claims for money or benefits under any public retirement or pension system.

6. Claims for principal or interest upon any bonds, notes, warrants, or other evidences of indebtedness.

7. Claims which relate to a special assessment constituting a specific lien against the property assessed and which are payable from the proceeds of such an assessment, by offset of a claim for damages against it or by delivery of any warrant or bonds representing it.

8. Claims by the State or by a State department or agency or by another local public entity.

9. Claims arising under any provision of the Unemployment Insurance Code, including, but not limited to, claims for money or benefits, or for refunds or credits of employer or worker contributions, penalties, or interest, or for refunds to workers of deductions from wages in excess of the amount prescribed.

10. Claims for the recovery of penalties or forfeitures made pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.

D. As a prerequisite to bringing suit against the City of Vernon on any claim for money or damages subject to this chapter, a claim must be filed within the time limitations and in the manner prescribed herein.

(Prior code § 2.10-1)

All claims for money or damages against the City governed by Government Code Section 900 et seq., shall be filed with the City Clerk. All other claims or demands against the City shall be filed with the Finance Director or authorized designee.

(Prior code § 2.11)

The Finance Director, or the Finance Director's designee, is authorized and directed to act on claims filed against the City, pursuant to Government Code Section 900 et seq., by investigating such claims, sending out all appropriate notices, including late claim rejections and denial notices and to allow, compromise or settle claims in a sum not to exceed $2,500.00, per claim. The City Administrator shall have authority to allow, compromise or settle claims in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00, per claim. The name of each claimant and the amount demanded in each claim shall be listed on the public agenda of a City Council meeting as soon after filing of the claim with the City as practical.

(Prior code § 2.11-1)

The Finance Director, or authorized designee, after receipt of claims or demands against the City, and before presenting the same to the City Council, shall audit the same, giving particular attention to:

A. A comparison of the items reflected in such claims or demands as compared with the corresponding items set forth in the requisition, purchase order or contract;

B. Verification of the receipt of the materials, supplies or services covered by the claim or demands, and that the amounts reflected are due and payable;

C. The accuracy of the mathematical computations and extensions.

(Prior code § 2.12)

The City Treasurer, or authorized designee, shall after compliance with the preceding section, prepare warrants covering the claims or demands which he or she finds to be in order after his or her examination thereof and shall cause such warrants to be numbered and listed on warrant registers prior to presenting the same to the City Council for its audit and approval.

(Prior code § 2.13)

There shall be included in or attached to each warrant register the affidavit of the City Treasurer, or authorized designee, certifying as to the accuracy of the demands and the availability of funds for payment thereof.

(Prior code § 2.14)

Provision shall be made at the bottom of each warrant register sheet for indication of audit by the City Council and the approval or disapproval by it of any or all warrants listed on such warrant register sheet.

(Prior code § 2.15)

Upon the presentation of a 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.

(Prior code § 2.16)