Item 2A - Minutes Approval - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Taylor indicated she favored the item, but was uncertain the council should proceed given that two council members were not present. She asked if it was urgent. Ms. Harding responded that enacting it sooner would allow the owner to submit applications for permits earlier. City Manager Taylor observed that, with one objection to taking action, the item would be acted upon on January 24, 2005. 4. PUBLIC HEARING and POSSIBLE ACTION: An Ordinance Concerning City Expenditures; Amending Sections 2.515 and 2.525 of the Eugene Code, 1971; and Repealing Section 2.555 of that Code City Manager Taylor explained that this item sought to make the Eugene Code conform to current practices. Financial Analysis Manager for the Central Services Department, Sue Cutsogeorge, stated that the code was currently written as though someone physically sat down and wrote out checks and signed them. She said this did not happen very often and the City had the technology to make payments through electronic transfers, which was not addressed in the code. She explained that the proposed ordinance would update the code, allow more formats for making payments of City expenditures and permit the City Manager to delegate signature authority on the City's checking accounts. She asked the council to consider taking action at the present meeting and indicated that, should the council take action, there was a subsequent related resolution on the agenda that would place a council action on the record to provide to banks as proof of authorization. Mayor Piercy opened the public hearing. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. Councilor Poling asked if the safeguards and safety checks would be removed from the system, should this go into effect. Ms. Cutsogeorge replied that, while not exactly the same, there would be safeguards on the system. She added that the City Manager would instruct staff, in his delegation of payment authority, to follow the payment procedures that had been set up. Councilor Poling ascertained that this would save staff time. He stated that the City needed to stay on top of advancements in technologies and use them to the organization's advantage. Councilor Ortiz said she was glad to see staff continuing to improve City services. Councilor Kelly conveyed his appreciation for staff's response to his question, similar to Councilor Poling's question. He recalled that paper checks were facsimile signed by the City Manager and Mayor. He asked if the signatories were being changed to the City Manager only. City Manager Taylor responded that it would still require the signatures of the City Manager and the Finance Officer. Mr. Klein stated that the code originally dictated that checks should be signed by the Mayor or City Manager and the Finance Officer. He surmised this code provision dated back in history to an earlier form of City government. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 10, 2005 Page 12 Regular Session