TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Quinn Barrow, City Attorney
Alexandria Latragna, Policy and Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Revising Regulations on Political Activity and the Use of City Facilities for Campaign Activity (City Attorney Barrow).
(Estimated Time: 30 Min.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction.
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BACKGROUND:
During the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Work Plan discussion, City Council directed staff to develop an election policy to address concerns regarding the use of public resources, City positions or titles, and City facilities for campaign-related activity.
State law and regulations limit campaign and political activity and the use of public resources. On July 21, 2020, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20-0006 designed to supplement those laws in a manner consistent with those laws to:
* Assure that individuals and interest groups in our society have a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the governmental process.
* Maintain an equal playing level, so that persons do not use their status as City officials or former City officials in an effort to take advantage of such status.
* Help restore public trust in governmental and electoral institutions and eliminate corruption and the appearance of corruption in City elections.
* Encourage a broader participation in the political process by maintaining limits on the amount any person may contribute or otherwise cause to be available to candidates to City Council or City Treasurer.
The ordinance adopted by City Council prohibited the use of City resources for campaign activity, restricted political activity in and on City facilities within 90 days of an election, adjusted the campaign contribution limit to $300, and made the campaign finance provisions and...
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