Title:
Title
(Pass for Publication) Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Sacramento City Code chapter 2.13, Relating to Campaign Contribution Limitations
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-00151
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
1) Pass a Motion waiving City Council Rule of Procedure, Chapter 13, Section B.1.i(ii) allowing City Council to review and adopt an ordinance without the Law and Legislation Committee’s prior review; 2) review an ordinance amending various sections of Sacramento City Code chapter 2.13, relating of campaign contribution limitations; and 3) pass for publication the ordinance title as required by Sacramento City Charter 32(c) to be adopted on February 26, 2019.
Contact: Wendy Klock-Johnson, MMC, Assistant City Clerk, (916) 808-7509; Danielle Perez, Senior Deputy City Clerk, (916) 808-6710, Office of the City Clerk.
Body
Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance (Redline)
3-Ordinance (Clean)
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Sacramento City Code requires a biennial adjustment of the elected-official campaign contribution limits. The proposed ordinance adjusts the various financial limits contained in the campaign contribution limitations chapter of the Sacramento City Code to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It also amends the definitions of certain election periods, to track the recent change in the date of the statewide primary election date.
Sacramento City Code chapter 2.13 sets campaign contribution limitations, including limits on individual and large political committee contributions. These limits include campaign contributions, aggregate off-year limits, and contributions to legal defense funds. As provided in the City Code, the City Clerk must bring forth amendments in every odd year updating these limits to reflect any increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the previous two years (2017 and 2018). Based on the activity of the CPI-U, 2.1% and 2.4% respectively, the amendments reflect the “2019 Proposed Limits” column of the table below.
|
Limit Type |
Office |
2017 Approved Limits |
2019 Proposed Limits |
|
Contribution Limits - From: Person From: Large Political Committee |
To: Councilmember |
1,650 5,600 |
1,750 5,850 |
|
Contribution Limits - From: Person From: Large Political Committee |
To: Mayor |
3,350 11,150 |
3,500 11,650 |
|
Aggregate Off-Year Contributions |
Councilmember |
27,850 |
29,150 |
|
Aggregate Off-Year Contributions |
Mayor |
55,750 |
58,300 |
|
Legal Defense Fund Contributions |
Councilmember and Mayor |
1,100 |
1,150 |
City Code section 2.14.320.E provides that in any budget year in which funds for public funding of campaigns are not included in the Campaign Reform Fund budget, such limits shall not be adjusted. Therefore, the limits for campaign spending and public matching funds are not being adjusted at this time.
The proposed ordinance also amends the definition of “off-election year” and “primary election period.” Currently, an “off-election year” runs from January 1 through June 30 of the calendar year preceding an election. A “primary election period” runs from July 1 of the year preceding an election through the month of the primary election. For example, if the city code is not amended, January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019 would be considered an “off-election year” for persons seeking city elective office in 2020; then the “primary election period” for that person would start on July 1, 2019.
These dates are premised on a primary election date in June. A candidate has historically had a one-year “primary election period.” However, the city ties its primary election date to the statewide primary election date. (Sacramento City Code, section 1.16.020.) The state has changed the statewide primary election date from June to March. (S.B. 568.) Therefore, the city’s primary elections will now be held in March. This change results in a “primary election period” that is three months shorter than intended under chapter 2.13. The proposed ordinance thus makes date adjustments to account for the change in state law.
Policy Considerations: Approving updates to the contribution limits is in alignment with procedures contained in the City Code. Alternatively, as is provided in City Code section 2.13.120(B), the City Council may, in lieu of the cost of living adjustment, adjust the limits as deemed appropriate.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: None.
Sustainability: None.
Commission/Committee Action: None. Due to urgency, the City Manager authorized the bypass of Law and Legislation Committee review, presenting this item directly to City Council.
Rationale for Recommendation: In compliance with City Code, update the various campaign contribution limits to reflect changes in the CPI.
Financial Considerations: Updating the contribution limits to reflect changes in the CPI provide campaign committees with the ability to raise funds for election expenses in correlation to the rising cost of consumer services.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): None.