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
• $440 per election contest (2.52.040(A))
Current limit:
• $800 for City Council District seats
• $1,200 for Citywide seats (i.e. Mayor and City Attorney) Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction:
• $1,530 per election contest (2.52.040(B))
Current limit:
• $1,530 (no change)
Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction:
• $0, contributions from organizations are prohibited (2.52.040(C)) Current limit:
• Same limit as contributions from individuals:
• $800 for City Council District seats
• $1,200 for Citywide seats (i.e. Mayor and City Attorney) Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction:
• $5,000 per election contest (2.52.050(A))
Current limit:
• $5,000 (no changes)
Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction:
• Not specified
Current period:
• 12 months of the election
Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction:
• $1,000
Current penalty:
• $2,500
Proposal based on 5/13/25 City Council direction: