Title:
Title
(Pass for Publication) An Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Sacramento City Code Chapter 2.13, Relating to Campaign Contribution Limitations
End
FileID
File ID: 2021-00249
Location
Location: Citywide
End
Recommendation:
Recommendation
1) Review an ordinance amending Sacramento City Code Chapter 2.13, relating to Campaign Contribution Limits; and 2) pass for publication the ordinance title per Sacramento City Code section 32(c) for consideration on March 16, 2021.
FileName
Contact: Wendy Klock-Johnson, MMC, Assistant City Clerk, (916) 808-7513; Marilyn Fisher, CMC, Program Specialist, (916) 808-7513, 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 (2019 and 2020). Based on the activity of the CPI-U, 1.8% and 1.2% respectively, the amendments reflect the “2021 Proposed Limits” column of the table below.
|
Limit Type |
Office |
2019 Approved Limits |
2021 Proposed Limits |
|
Contribution Limits - From: Person From: Large Political Committee |
To: Councilmember |
$1,750 $5,850 |
$1,800 $6,000 |
|
Contribution Limits - From: Person From: Large Political Committee |
To: Mayor |
$3,500 $11,650 |
$3,600 $12,000 |
|
Aggregate Off-Year Contributions |
Councilmember |
$29,150 |
$30,050 |
|
Aggregate Off-Year Contributions |
Mayor |
$58,300 |
$60,050 |
|
Legal Defense Fund Contributions |
Councilmember and Mayor |
$1,150 |
$1,200 |
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 March 31 of the calendar year preceding an election. A “primary election period” runs from April 1 of the year preceding an election through the month of the primary election. However, these dates are premised on a primary election date in March. A candidate has historically had a one-year “primary election period.” The city ties its primary election date to the statewide primary election date (Sacramento City Code, section 1.16.020), which has been moved back to June. Therefore, the city’s primary elections will now be held in June. 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 (timing requirement in the city code), 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): Not applicable.