CC Minutes - 01/10/05 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Terri Harding, 132 East Broadway Street, Suite 536, planning manager for Satre Associates, noted that the owner, Kathleen Hall, was present to answer questions if necessary. She thanked Mr. Kullby for his presentation on the item to the Planning Commission, which unanimously supported the recommendation, and before the City Council. She explained that the house was built in 1901 in the Vernacular Gothic style. She said the present owner operated a business called Amelia's Antiques and intended to pay tribute to the house's history through the operation of the business. She conveyed her client's request that the council consider taking action on the ordinance earlier than January 24. Seeing no others wishing to testify, Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. In response to a question from Councilor Kelly, Mr. Klein explained that with unanimous consent the council could choose to take action. City Manager Taylor stated that the bill number was 4888. 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. MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 10, 2005 Page 12 Regular Session