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Los Alamitos council agrees to add financial-transparency report to next agenda after debate over warrants process
Summary
Council members debated the city—s accelerated warrants policy and access to invoices before voting to place a staff-driven item on a future agenda to study electronic delivery of financial documents; the warrants register itself was approved by roll call.
The Los Alamitos City Council on Sept. 23 moved to place a financial-transparency item on a future agenda after members clashed over the city—s accelerated warrants policy and access to invoices.
Councilmember (who raised the issue) criticized the policy for discouraging public and council discussion of warrants and asked detailed questions about line items and timing for work on a local ballot measure. The city attorney replied that the council was acting under its adopted policy, which was designed to allow questions in advance so staff can respond when the warrants are considered.
At issue were specific invoices and procurement choices, including a contract and a purchase order for Trippie Smith & Associates that council members said showed concentrated work in July tied to Measure X outreach. One council member asked why the city had not engaged earlier and whether the timing reduced public input. City staff said the council voted to place the measure on the ballot in June or July and that the vendor work followed that direction.
Councilmember (mover) proposed this motion: "I moved to direct staff to electronically deliver Financial information to council members upon request." City Attorney advised that the request must be placed on a future agenda for formal consideration. The motion to place the transparency item on the next agenda was seconded and passed (3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain).
The council also voted to approve the warrants register for the month after a separate move to "move the warrants." A roll-call vote recorded Mayor Nafolda and councilmembers Hasselbring, Dobie, Hibbard and Murphy voting in the affirmative.
City Manager Chet Simmons told the council the city is modernizing systems and "has committed to the city council that by the end of the winter that we would have a fully digitized... warrant system," which he said should allow electronic delivery of invoices on request and reduce the need for council members to come to City Hall to copy records.
Next steps: staff will list the requested financial-transparency item on the next agenda with a brief staff report. If the council wants a more comprehensive review, a full staff report will be prepared for a future meeting.
