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CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Michael Posey, City Council Member'��
Date: February 29, 2016
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE MARCH 7, 2016, CITY
COUNCIL MEETING — CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
A recent survey of Orange County cities revealed that twenty (20) Orange County cities have no
campaign contribution limits - ten (10) cities, which are Charter Cities, have limits ranging from
$500 to $1,500 (see attached). I would request that the City review its existing Ordinance
related to campaign contribution limitations. This review would enable an open discourse on the
existing limitations and the possibility of increasing contribution limits to match what other local
jurisdictions have in place. The changing nature of political campaigns and the way in which we
must engage the electorate necessitates that the City periodically review campaign contribution
limitations in order to align with the other Charter Cities within Orange County.
In 2008, the City Council appointed an ad hoc committee to review campaign contribution
limitations and the Municipal Code. This committee was comprised of three City Council
Members and interested members of the community. The City Attorney served as the staff
liaison who then brought recommendations on revisions to the Code to Council via a Study
Session in March 2008. The committee reviewed the Municipal Code in order to avoid
duplicating State law, clarify existing law, and to determine appropriate campaign contribution
limitations. On April 21, 2008, the City Council voted to amend Chapter 2.07 of the Huntington
Beach Municipal Code relating to campaign finance reform that raised the existing contribution
from $300 to $500. The City's current campaign contribution limitation is $550 (Ordinance No.
3803). This limitation is adjusted biennially to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index.
The ten cities with varying limits are Charter Cities that have the ability to utilize the "home -rule"
provision, which thereby maximizes local control over City affairs.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
In an effort to align the City of Huntington Beach with other Charter Cities in Orange County,
direct the City Attorney to bring forward an Ordinance amending Chapter 2.07 of the Municipal
Code Relating to Campaign Reform to increase the campaign contribution amount to $1,200
adjusted biennially to reflect the Consumer Price Index. This will be implemented after City
Council approval and upon the effective date of the ordinance.
Attachment: Campaign Contribution Limitation Matrix and Chart
xc: Fred Wilson, City Manager
Ken Domer, Assistant City Manage
Joan Flynn, City ClerkLLr✓4w i
Michael Gates, City Attorney
Campaign Contribution Limitations
Attachment "A"
City
Charter or General Law
Campaign Contribution Limit
Aliso Viejo
General Law
No Limit
Anaheim
Charter
$1,500
Brea
General Law
$1,000
Buena Park
Charter
No Limit
Costa Mesa
General Law
No Limit
Cypress
Charter
No Limit
Dana Point
General Law
$690
Fountain Valley
General Law
$500
Fullerton
General Law
No Limit
Garden Grove
General Law
No Limit
Huntington Beach
Charter
$550
Irvine
Charter
$470
La Habra
General Law
No Limit
La Palma
General Law
No Limit
Laguna Beach
General Law
$360
Laguna Hills
General Law
No Limit
Laguna Niguel
General Law
$350
Laguna Woods
General Law
$250
Lake Forest
General Law
No Limit
Los Alamitos
Charter
No Limit
Mission Viejo
General Law
No Limit
Newport Beach
Charter
$1,100
Orange
General Law
$1,000
Placentia
Charter
No Limit
Rancho Santa Margarita
General Law
No Limit
San Clemente
General Law
No Limit
San Juan Capistrano
General Law
$500
Santa Ana
Charter
$1,000
Seal Beach
Charter
$500
Stanton
General Law
No Limit
Tustin
General Law
No Limit
Villa Park
General Law
No Limit
Westminster
General Law
No Limit
Yorba Linda
General Law
No Limit
3/8/20
t
Campaign Contribution
Limitations
Council Member Mike Posey
Campaign Contribution Limitations - History
1
3/8/2016
Campaign Contribution Limitations - Data
3/8/2016
Recommendation
• Direct the City attorney to bring forward an Ordinance amending Chapter
2.07 of the Municipal Code to increase the campaign contribution to $1,200
adjusted biennially to reflect the Consumer Price Index.
3