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City Council Study Session - 10/18/04 Minutes - Page 26 Councilmembers were appointed and! or elected for assurances that Councilmembers were familiar with procedure. City Attorney Squires noted that tonight's discussion was healthy and necessary; and puts former legal opinions in context for Council assurance that practices are in place; but further noted that it is the Council's fiduciary obligation to see that accounting and administration policies and procedures are in place. Mayor Klausing concurred with the practice of reviewing internal policies and procedures periodically as a general housekeeping issue, similar to those handled at the January organizational meeting. City Manager Beets defined that staff was more than willing to provide the internal policies and other information to Council, but cautioned that public sector general accounting procedures followed may be more cumbersome and complicated than anticipated. Mayor Klausing directed staff to provide the internal policies and procedures followed for Council information. Mayor Klausing further addressed the information provided on the check register listing and similar information not available on the purchase card invoices. Further discussion ensued among Councilmembers, staff and City Attorney Squires regarding Council authority in approving payables; City Manager authority to make purchases, or to delegate that authority at his discretion; and the approval process. Councilmember Schroeder noted that with the use of purchase cards, rather than purchase orders, there was no pre-approval and that was his main concern; along with the Council not being provided with more detailed information on the purchase card invoices similar to the detail provided on the check listings. City Manager Beets opined that he found that the purchase card records provided more detail than the check listings, and provided more accountability.