Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JUNE 16, 2026
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: LUCINDA WILLIAMS, CITY CLERK
PREPARED BY: LUCINDA WILLIAMS, CITY CLERK
SUBJECT: ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING FOR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
SUMMARY
Staff requests City Council introduce an ordinance to allow and require electronic and paperless filing for FPPC campaign disclosure statements.
PROPOSED MOTION
Introduce Ordinance No. XXXX for first reading by title only and waive further reading of the ordinance.
ORDINANCE NO. XXXX - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA, ADDING FULLERTON MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.02.020 TO REQUIRE ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING FOR FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENTS
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City uses NetFile for Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) e-filings. The bundled pricing for the NetFile Form 700 and Campaign Disclosure modules totals $6,250 per year, with the same annual pricing guaranteed for five years (through June 30, 2031). The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget includes these costs.
DISCUSSION
The Political Reform Act (“Act”) defines campaigns spending or raising more than $2,000 as “Controlled Committees”. The Act obligates these committees to file detailed campaign finance statements, including FPPC Form 460 Committee Campaign Statements. The City Clerk’s Office may only accept paper campaign disclosure filings without an adopted ordinance. Paper filings, often over 100 pages long, require manual website upload, redaction and review which places significant strain on staff resources to meet statutory posting deadlines. Additionally, campaign treasurers have requested the City accept electronic filings for several years.
The City Clerk’s Office will implement the NetFile Campaign Disclosure Filing System – an electronic / paperless filing system to accommodate online filing for the FPPC campaign disclosure forms including Forms 460, 470, 496 and 497.
NetFile ensures public posting compliance, provides better transparency and offers an easier way for filers to comply with filing requirements. It provides on-demand, 24/7 access to view and file campaign disclosure information and increases filing accuracy by ensuring filers complete all required fields before submittal. Many committee treasurers use NetFile to file with other agencies and have asked for electronic filing in Fullerton for several years. NetFile and the City Clerk’s Office will offer extensive training to all filers.
Government Code Section 84615 allows local government agencies to require elected and appointed officials, candidates and committees to file FPPC campaign statements, reports and other documents online or electronically with a local filing officer. City Council must adopt an ordinance (Attachment 1) approving use of an online or electronic filing system, including a legislative finding that the online or electronic system will operate securely and effectively and not unduly burden filers.
The NetFile system is a web-based, vendor-hosted application utilizing industry best practices to secure data, using the same data encryption for online filings used by banks for online banking. NetFile stores and backs up data at three separate locations, creating the essential safety measures and redundancy that allow information recovery following an emergency or disaster. The NetFile system meets the California Secretary of State filing system requirements.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Draft Ordinance No. XXXX
cc: City Manager Eddie Manfro
Campaign Disclosure Filing
June 16, 2026 - Page 3