Chula Vista adopted Municipal Code Chapter
2.52 – “Campaign Contributions” – per City
Charter requirements.
1989
Last comprehensive update of the Campaign
Contribution Ordinance; followed by additional
amendments.
2011
City Attorney presented potential revisions to
the Ordinance.
City Council formed an ad hoc subcommittee.
21 Feb. 2023
Subcommittee provided an update on
campaign contributions.
City Council directed a comprehensive review
and proposed amendments by City Attorney
and City Clerk
24 Oct. 2023
A. Clarify Time Period for Accepting
Donations
• Current: 11 months before the
election (2.52.040(E))
• Proposed: The 1st day of the 11th
month before the election
(2.52.045(A))
B. Requirement to Send Registered Mail
Notification to Opponents
• Current: Required to send notification
via registered mail when spending or
contributing more than $5,000 of
personal funds (2.52.060)
• Proposed: Eliminate notification
requirement; notice is required via
FPPC Form 497 for all contributions
received over $1,000 in the 90 days
leading up to the election
C. Clarify Enforcement Processing and
Obligations
• Add provisions (2.52.140 et seq):
• Enforcement Authority to reach
final determination within 180
days
• Opportunity for subject of the
complaint to respond
• Specify records related to
enforcement are public
documents
D. Duties of the City Clerk
• Remove specified duties of the City
Clerk from the Code; duties are
provided for and expanded in state
law (2.52.130)
E. Other Provisions
• Remove requirement that campaign account be at a bank in San Diego County; existing state law requires the account to be in California (2.52.070)
• Update terms to reflect new Charter language enacted by Measure K (e.g., “Primary” and “General” election, vs. “General” and “Special”) • Increase the font size of required notices from 6 pt. to 8 pt. (2.52.100) • Other revisions to add defined terms, remove ambiguity, reformat and reorganize, and remove provisions that are duplicative of state law Contribution
limits
Individuals
Political Party
Committees
Businesses/
corporations
Limit for loans to own
committee
Time period to repay
outstanding debt
• $410 per election contest (2.52.040(A))
Current limit:
• $800, consistent other municipalities in the
County of San Diego
• $2,950 (2025-2026), representing one-half
of the state limit, based on subcommittee
recommendation
• $440, current limit increased by Consumer
Price Index under existing provisions
• Another amount to be determined
Alternatives:
• $1,410 per election contest
(2.52.040(B))
Current limit:
• $1,530, current limit increased by
Consumer Price Index under
existing provisions
• Another amount to be determined
Alternatives:
• $0, contributions from organizations
are prohibited (2.52.040(C))
Current limit:
• Same limit as contributions from
individuals
• Another amount to be determined
Alternatives*:
* If an alternative is selected, consider the entities that would be eligible to contribute. It may include all entities or a subset of entities under the current definition of “Organization”:
“Organization” means a proprietorship, labor union, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business, trust, company, corporation, association, or committee, including a political action committee.
• $5,000 per election contest
(2.52.050(A))
Current limit:
• $25,000, based on subcommittee
recommendation
• Another amount to be determined
Alternatives:
• Not specified
Current period:
• 24 months, consistent with
state guidelines(2.52.050(C) &
(D))
• Another time to be determined
Alternatives:
City Contribution Limits-
Individuals Contribution Limits-PACs
Carlsbad $1,000; $3,600 for Mayor,
Treasurer, and City Clerk
Chula Vista $410 $0
Coronado $200 $200
Del Mar $200 $2,000
El Cajon $10,000 $10,000
Encinitas $250 $250
Escondido $5,500 $5,500
Imperial Beach $250 $250
La Mesa $5,500 $5,500
Lemon Grove $1,170 $1,170
National City* $1,230 $2,455
Oceanside $5,500 $5,500
Poway $250 $250
San Diego $800; $1,450 for Mayor $14,600
San Marcos $250 $500
Santee $700 $700
Solana Beach $270 $270
Vista $610