§ 7.14. Authority for expenditures.

The City Council shall establish a Public Expenditure Policy (the "Policy"), which shall be reviewed and approved by the City Council annually. In establishing, reviewing, and approving this Policy, the City Council shall consider whether the expenditures to be authorized by the Policy: 1) benefit the community as a whole; 2) are directly related to governmental functions; and 3) primarily benefit the public interest, not a private interest. In establishing, reviewing, and approving the Policy, the City Council shall consider the opinion of the City Attorney and statewide sources of authority, which may include judicial determinations, Minnesota Attorney General opinions, and findings of the Office of the State Auditor.

Expenditures related to any of the following activities shall be deemed authorized if the Policy expressly provides authorization: international, cultural, and economic development programs; community events, festivals, and celebrations; miscellaneous employee benefits; employee recognition; and funding for conference attendance. The City Council may also provide specific authorization regarding any other expenditure.

(Ord. No. 2015-17, § 1, 12-22-15)