Chapter 1.9
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
Sections:
1.9.01 Campaign contribution limit authority.
1.9.02 No limitation on campaign contributions.
1.9.03 Electronic filing of campaign disclosure statements and statements of economic interests.
1.9.01 Campaign contribution limit authority.
The provisions of this chapter are enacted pursuant to the provisions of AB 571, and in particular, Government Code Section 85702.5, effective on January 1, 2020, and operative on January 1, 2021, allowing a municipality to establish campaign contribution limits for candidates for elective City office. (§ 1, Ord. 20-16, eff. December 9, 2020)
1.9.02 No limitation on campaign contributions.
There shall be no limit on the monetary contributions from an individual, entity, or committee to a candidate for elective City office in support of his or her candidacy.
Nothing herein shall affect the applicable reporting, disclosure, and recusal requirements related to any contributions as required by applicable provisions of law, including the Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended (Government Code Section 81000, et seq., and applicable regulations promulgated thereunder), or the voluntary campaign expenditure limit in Chapter 1.8 of this Code. (§ 1, Ord. 20-16, eff. December 9, 2020)
1.9.03 Electronic filing of campaign disclosure statements and statements of economic interests.
(a) Any elected officer, candidate, commission, committee, or other person required to file statements, reports, or other documents required by Government Code Chapter 4 – Political Reform Act (commencing with Section 84100) shall file those statements, reports, or other documents online or electronically with the City Clerk. Elected officers, candidates, or committees required to file statements must file such statements using the City Clerk’s online system, unless exempt from the requirement to file online pursuant to Government Code Section 84615(a) because the officer, candidate, or committee receives less than two thousand and 00/100ths dollars ($2,000.00) in contributions and makes less than two thousand and 00/100ths dollars ($2,000.00) in expenditures in a calendar year. All other individuals required to file statements of economic interest according to the City’s adopted code of conflict of interest must file electronically using the City Clerk’s online system.
(b) Any person holding a position listed in Government Code Section 87200 or designated in the City’s local conflict of interest code adopted pursuant to Government Code Section 87300 shall file any required statement of economic interest reports (Form 700) online or electronically with the City Clerk.
(c) In any instance in which an original statement, report or other document must be filed with the California Secretary of State and a copy of that statement, report or other document is required to be filed with the City Clerk, the filer may, but is not required to, file the copy electronically.
(d) The online filing system shall ensure the integrity of the data transmitted and shall include safeguards against efforts to tamper with, manipulate, alter, or subvert the data.
(e) The online filing system shall only accept a filing in the standardized record format that is developed by the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 84602(a)(2) of the California Government Code and that is compatible with the Secretary of State’s system for receiving an online or electronic filing.
(f) The online filing system shall include a procedure for filers to comply with the requirement that they sign statements and reports under penalty of perjury pursuant to Section 81004 of the Government Code.
(g) Any elected officer, candidate, or committee who has electronically filed a statement using the City Clerk’s online system is not required to file a copy of that document in paper format with the City Clerk.
(h) The City Clerk shall issue an electronic confirmation that notifies the filer that the statement was received; the notification shall include the date and the time that the statement was received and the method by which the filer may view and print the data received by the City Clerk. The date of filing for a statement filed online shall be the day that it is received by the City Clerk.
(i) If the City Clerk’s system is not capable of accepting a statement due to technical difficulties, an elected officer, candidate, or committee shall file that statement in paper format with the City Clerk.
(j) The online filing system shall enable electronic filers to complete and submit filings free of charge.
(k) The City Clerk’s system shall make all the data filed available on the City’s webpage in an easily understood format that provides the greatest public access. The data shall be made available free of charge and as soon as possible after receipt. The data made available on the City’s webpage shall not contain the street name and building number of the persons or entity representatives listed on the electronically filed forms or any bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer. The City Clerk’s office shall make a complete, unredacted copy of the statement, including any street names, building numbers, and bank account numbers disclosed by the filer, available to any person upon request.
(l) The City Clerk’s office shall maintain, for a period of at least ten (10) years commencing from the date filed, a secured, official version of each online or electronic statement which shall serve as the official version of that record for the purpose of audits and any other legal purpose. (§ 2, Ord. 22-04, eff. June 15, 2022)