No Councilmember or candidate or any person acting on behalf of such Councilmember or candidate shall knowingly solicit from any City employee or officer any endorsement or contribution of funds, goods or services for a Councilmember or a candidate for City Council nor shall any such person knowingly solicit the attendance (whether "paid" or "complimentary") of any City employee or officer at any fundraising event held by or for a Councilmember or candidate or at any event at which attendance by a City employee or officer may place or appear to place the employee or officer in a position adverse to the interests of the City. No City employee or officer shall be rebuked or penalized in any manner for failure or refusal to provide an endorsement or contribution or to attend any such events nor shall any City employee or officer be rebuked or penalized in any manner for failure or refusal to encourage or allow endorsements, contributions or attendance at any such events by other City employees or officers. The prohibitions of this section do not apply to solicitations or invitations posted, published or broadcast as general announcements of events in such manner that they may happen to be viewed or heard by City employees or officers, but do apply to oral or written solicitations directly made to individual City employees or officers.
(Prior code § 2-900)
Violation of this chapter shall be punishable as a misdemeanor. A violation by a Councilmember shall also constitute a violation of the rules of the Council of the City.
(Prior code § 2-901)
A. 
City Hall is a polling location and is therefore subject to California Election Codes regarding Electioneering. Violations can lead to fines and/or imprisonment. Examples of prohibited activities include and are not limited to the following:
1. 
Do not ask a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure.
2. 
Do not display a candidate's name, image, or logo.
3. 
Do not block access to or loiter near any ballot drop boxes.
4. 
Do not provide any material or audible information for or against any candidate or ballot measure near any polling place, vote center, or ballot drop box.
5. 
Do not circulate any petitions, including for initiatives, referenda, recall, or candidate nominations.
6. 
Do not distribute, display, or wear any clothing (hats, shirts, signs, buttons, stickers) that include a candidate's name, image, logo, and/or support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure.
7. 
Do not display information or speak to a voter about the voter's eligibility to vote.
B. 
The electioneering prohibitions summarized above are set forth in Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Division 18 of the California Elections Code. The standards granted per the California Elections Code pertaining to Electioneering shall preempt and supersede any local codes that conflict with the state law.
(Ord. 2026-02-03-1203, 2/3/2026)