This chapter may be cited as the Glendale Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A. 
In enacting this chapter, it is the city council's purpose and intent to:
1. 
Enable individuals and interest groups in the city access to a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the municipal governmental processes;
2. 
Assist serious candidates to communicate their views and positions to the public;
3. 
Provide a neutral source of campaign financing in the form of limited public funds to mitigate the initial costs and fees to participate in local elections incurred by local candidates; and
4. 
Assist candidates and officeholders to spend a lesser proportion of their time on fundraising and a greater proportion of their time dealing with issues of importance to their constituents.
B. 
The Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program shall be implemented for the years in which the city council has appropriated such funds in the city's annual budget allocation process.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
"Candidate"
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
"City"
means the city of Glendale.
"City council"
means the Glendale city council pursuant to the city charter.
"Contribution"
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
"Election"
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
"Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program" or "public funds"
means the amount of funds appropriated by the city council in the city's annual budget allocation process to be disbursed to candidates running for Glendale city council seats.
"Payment"
means the payment of costs under the program on behalf of a candidate, or the reimbursement of costs under the program to the candidate.
"Program"
means the city's Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program or public funds program.
"Single election cycle"
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A. 
A candidate for city council, city treasurer or city clerk shall be considered a "qualified candidate" and shall, subject to budget appropriation, be approved to receive public funds if the candidate meets all of the following requirements:
1. 
The candidate agrees to the city's conditions and requirements on the use of public funds.
2. 
The candidate is certified to appear on the ballot for the election for which public funds are sought and the candidate is opposed by at least one other certified candidate for the same office.
3. 
The total amount of contributions accepted by the candidate in connection with the election for which public funds are sought shall not exceed $50,000. Any candidate who accepts contributions in excess of $50,000 shall no longer be considered a "qualified candidate" for public funds and for participation in the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program and shall return all public funds previously received, pursuant to Section 1.09.090. For the purposes of this section, the fifty thousand dollar ($50,000.00) cap on aggregate contributions does not include the public funds amount(s) disbursed to a qualifying candidate under this chapter.
5. 
Loans and in-kind contributions shall not be included in the fifty thousand dollar ($50,000.00) cap on aggregate contributions for the purposes of subsection (A)(3) of this section.
6. 
The public funds will be applied to qualifying candidates in the single election cycle as defined in Section 1.10.020.
7. 
The contributions limits of subsection (A)(3) of this section shall not apply to candidates who are not applying to receive public funds under the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A. 
Under the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, the city shall waive the local fee(s) associated with the initial filings by local candidates and shall pay the initial fee payable to outside entities incurred by local candidates.
1. 
The local initial filing cost to be waived for qualifying local candidates shall be the city of Glendale candidate filing fee.
2. 
The initial filing cost to be paid on behalf of qualifying local candidates under this chapter shall be the candidate statement filing fee(s) collected by the County of Los Angeles for candidate statement to be printed in English.
3. 
The city shall update the list of local initial costs and the list of initial costs charged by other entities as set forth in subsections (A)(1) and (2) of this section, for the purposes of administering the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program as necessary.
B. 
The maximum available public funds per qualifying candidate under the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program shall be an amount not to exceed $4,000. If the actual costs to be waived or paid pursuant to this section are less than $4,000, then the qualifying local candidate shall receive the appropriate waiver or payment in the actual amount of the cost. If the actual costs to be waived or paid pursuant to this section exceed $4,000, then the qualifying local candidate shall receive public funds capped at $4,000.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A. 
Each local candidate must file with the city clerk a statement of acceptance or rejection of the local candidate's participation in the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program by completing the appropriate city form(s) and their timely filing as instructed therein.
B. 
A local candidate who fails to timely file a statement of acceptance or rejection in the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, and the appropriate forms within the required time period, may not participate in the program.
C. 
A local candidate who initially agrees to participate in the program but who subsequently declines to do so will be deemed a non-participating candidate and will be ineligible to receive public funds for that single election cycle and must return any and all public funds received for that single election cycle.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
Subject to budget appropriation of public funds to fund the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, and once a candidate demonstrates that the candidate is a "qualified candidate," the city will either waive applicable local costs and fees or pay eligible costs on behalf of the qualified candidates by disbursing public funds in accordance to the city's check disbursement policy. A delay by the candidate in the timely filing of any forms or submittal of information as required by this chapter may result in delayed processing and disbursement time by the city.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
Public funds under the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program may only be used for the purposes stated in this chapter by a candidate during the single election cycle for which the funds are allocated.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A. 
Candidates may be required to return public funds waived or paid under the Local Election Candidate Assistance Program if they are disqualified from or violate the terms of the program.
1. 
If city staff notifies a candidate in writing that public funds must be returned, the candidate must return said public funds, within 15 calendar days of the date of the written notice, in the form of a cashier's check payable to the city.
2. 
Candidates who do not return public funds as required are subject to legal action for collection of the funds as set forth in this section.
B. 
Criminal Penalty. Any person who is convicted of violating this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not greater than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 180 days, or by both fine and imprisonment.
C. 
Civil Enforcement. The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by means of a civil action for injunctive and other relief, including statutory damages. In a civil action, any person determined to have violated this chapter may be held liable for statutory damages in an amount of up to $10,000 and for such reasonable attorneys' fees and costs as may be awarded by the court.
D. 
Any person who causes any other person to violate any provision of this chapter, or who aids and abets any other person in the violation of any provision of this chapter, shall equally be subject to the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)