There is a public interest in keeping large contributions out of local politics by decreasing the maximum contributions being made to candidates running for local office. By meeting residents, business owners and community members in person, candidates will not need to rely as heavily on mass media communication, and therefore campaign expenditures can be voluntarily reduced.
(Ord. 1968 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021)
For the purposes of this chapter, definitions set forth in the Political Reform Act, Government Code Section 82000 et seq., shall apply with the addition of the following:
"Contribution"
means a payment, the forgiveness of a loan, and a transfer of anything of value (unless full and adequate consideration is received), as further defined in California Government Code Section 82015.
"Election"
means any municipal election, whether general or special, at which the offices of mayor and/or council member are to be filled.
"Election period"
means that period of time:
1. 
For general elections, from January 1st of the calendar year of the general election, until December 31st of the calendar year of the general election.
2. 
For special elections, from the date that the city council calls for the special election, until 60 days after the special election.
"Organization or committee"
includes an independent expenditure committee.
"Person"
means an individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability company, association, committee, and any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.
(Ord. 1968 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1969 § 2, 2008; Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021)
A. 
No person shall make any contribution(s) to a candidate for the office of council member or Mayor in a general election, cumulated with such person's contribution(s) to such candidate's controlled committees, which exceed the cumulative amount of $1,000, nor shall any such contribution(s) which exceed the cumulative amount of $1,000 be accepted by any candidate or candidate's committee from any person.
B. 
No person shall make any contribution(s) to a candidate for the office of council member or Mayor in a special election, cumulated with such person's contribution(s) to such candidate's controlled committees, which exceed the cumulative amount of $1,000, nor shall any such contribution(s) which exceed the cumulative amount of $1,000 be accepted by any candidate or candidate's committee from any person.
C. 
The voluntary contribution limits stated in subsections A and B of this section shall not apply to contributions made or received in support of, or in opposition to, a ballot measure, nor shall said voluntary contribution limits apply to contributions made by a candidate to his or her own campaign.
D. 
A candidate may transfer non-surplus campaign funds from that candidate's controlled committee to a campaign committee for elective city office controlled by the same candidate. Candidates may not redesignate a committee for one election for another election. Contributions transferred shall be attributed to specific contributors using a "last in, first out" or "first in, first out" accounting method, and these attributed contributions when aggregated with all other contributions from the same contributor shall not exceed the limits set forth in subsections A and B of this section. A committee transferring funds must designate in its records at the time of its first transfer whether it elects the "last in, first out" or a "first in, first out" method of accounting for the current and future transfers. This designation is irrevocable. Candidates and committees shall comply with the campaign finance requirements set forth in Section 18536 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, as amended, except that references therein to state contribution limits shall be deemed to refer to the requirements of this chapter.
E. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is acknowledged that the contribution limits of this chapter are voluntary, and candidates, candidates' committees and other persons must still adhere to the requirements of state law regarding state contribution limits.
(Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2277, 5/7/2024)
A. 
The voluntary expenditure limit for candidates for the office of council member or mayor in a general election, cumulated with the expenditures of such candidates'-controlled committees, shall be: $24,000.00 for the office of council member; and $30,000.00 for the office of mayor for the election period.
B. 
The voluntary expenditure limit for candidates for the office of council member or mayor in a special election, cumulated with the expenditures of such candidates'-controlled committees, shall be: $24,000.00 for the office of council member; and $30,000.00 for the office of mayor for the election period.
C. 
Each candidate for the office of council member or mayor may voluntarily pledge to adhere to the expenditure limitation set forth in this section by signing and submitting an original voluntary pledge, on the form provided by the city clerk, simultaneously with the candidate filing nomination papers for office.
(Ord. 1968 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021)
A. 
Each candidate and candidate's-controlled committee which has taken the voluntary contribution limitation pledge set forth in Section 1.22.025 shall execute a verification, in a form provided by the city clerk, stating that such candidate or candidate's-controlled committee did not accept any cumulative contribution in excess of the amount established by Section 1.22.025. Such verification shall be filed with the city clerk along with each campaign statement required by Section 1.20.030 of this code.
B. 
Each candidate and candidate's-controlled committee which has taken the voluntary expenditure limitation pledge set forth in Section 1.22.030 shall execute a verification, in a form provided by the city clerk, stating that such candidate or candidate's-controlled committee did not make any cumulative expenditure in excess of the amount established by Section 1.22.030. Such verification shall be filed with the city clerk along with each campaign statement required by Section 1.20.030 of this code.
(Ord. 1968 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021)
Any violation of this chapter shall not be subject to penalty or citation.
(Ord. 1968 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2214 § 1, 2021)