ORDINANCE NO. 2061
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ADDING CHAPTER 2.09 TO TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL
CODE TO REQUIRE ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING OF FAIR POLITICAL
PRACTICES COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS WHEREAS, Government Code Section 84615 currently provides that a local agency may adopt an ordinance to require an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person required to file statements, reports, or other documents required by Chapter 4 of the Political Reform Act (commencing with Section 84100 of the Government Code), except an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person who receives contributions totaling less than $2,000 and who makes independent expenditures totaling less than $2,000 in a calendar year, to file those statements, reports, or other documents online or electronically with the local filing officer; and
WHEREAS, the City has entered into an agreement with NetFile, Inc., a vendor approved by the California Secretary of State, to provide an online electronic filing system ("System") for campaign disclosure statements; and
WHEREAS, the System will operate securely and effectively and will not unduly burden filers; and
WHEREAS, the System shall ensure the integrity of the data transmitted and shall include safeguards against efforts to tamper with, manipulate, alter, or subvert the data; and WHEREAS, the System will enable filers to complete and submit filings free of charge, and will make all the data filed available online and free of charge in an easily understood format that provides the greatest public access; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael desires to amend the San Rafael Municipal Code adding section, 2.09 “Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practice Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements” regarding electronic filing of Campaign Disclosure Statements.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Section 2.09, Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practices Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements, is hereby added to the San Rafael Municipal Code to read as follows:
2.09 Electronic and Paperless Filing of Fair Political Practice Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements.
A. Definitions. The following definitions apply for the purposes of this section:
"Candidate" shall mean a candidate, as that phrase is defined in Section 82007 of the Government Code, as may be amended from time to time, for any City elective office for any general, special or recall election.
"Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 82013 of the Government Code, as may be amended from time to time.
"Contribution" has the meaning set forth in Section 82015 of the Government Code, as may be amended from time to time.
"Electronic filing system" shall mean the electronic online filing and data storage system provided for by the city clerk for campaign statements, reports, forms, or other documents filed pursuant to Government Code Section 81000 et seq. "Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 82047 of the Government Code, as may be amended from time to time.
"Statements" shall mean any statements, reports, forms, or other documents required by Government Code Chapter 4 - Political Reform Act (Section 81000 et seq.), as may be amended from time to time.
B. Any elected officer, candidate, commission, committee, or other person required to file campaign disclosure statements, reports, forms or other documents required by Government Code Chapter 4 (Campaign Disclosure) - Political Reform Act (Section 84100 et seq.) shall file those statements, reports, or other documents online or electronically with the electronic filing system unless exempt from the requirement to file online pursuant to Government Code Section 84615(a) because the officer, candidate, or committee or person receives less than two thousand dollars in contributions and makes less than two thousand dollars in expenditures in a calendar year.
C. In any instance in which an original statement, report or other document required by Government Code Chapter 4 (Campaign Disclosure) - Political Reform Act (Section 84100 et seq.) must be filed with the California Secretary of State and a duplicate or copy of that statement, report or other document is required to be filed with the City Clerk, the filer may, but is not required to, file the copy electronically.
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, once an elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person files a statement, report, or other document electronically pursuant to subsection B, all future statements, reports, or other documents on behalf of that filer shall be filed electronically.
E. The electronic filing system shall be implemented and maintained to be consistent with the requirements of Government Code Section 84615, as that section may be amended from time to time.
F. The City Clerk is authorized to adopt such administrative policies and procedures as deemed necessary by the City Clerk to implement this Section 2.09.
G. If the City Clerk’s electronic system is not capable of accepting a particular type of statement, report or other document, an elected officer, candidate, committee or other person shall file that document with the City Clerk in an alternative format.
Section 3. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
The City finds that this action is evaluated to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State Guidelines Section State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (b)(2)-(3), 15378(b)(2),(5), as it is not considered to constitute a “project” for the purposes of CEQA.
Section 4. Severability.
If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
Section 5. Effective Date and Publication.
This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after it is adopted and shall be posted or published as required by State law.
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was first read and introduced at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on the 16th day of March 2026, and was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on the 6th day of April 2026 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
______________________________
Kate Colin, Mayor
Attest:
_____________________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2061
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ADDING CHAPTER 2.09 TO TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE
TO REQUIRE ELECTRONIC AND PAPERLESS FILING OF FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES
COMMISSION (FPPC) CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS
This Summary concerns a proposed Ordinance of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, designated as Ordinance No. 2061, which will add Chapter 2.09 to Title 2 (Administration) of the San Rafael Municipal Code. Ordinance No. 2061 is scheduled for adoption by the San Rafael City Council at its regular meeting of April 6, 2026. The City Clerk has been directed to publish this Summary pursuant to City Charter and California Government Code section 36933(c)(1).
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL CODE
This Ordinance would add Chapter 2.09 to Title 2 (Administration) of the San Rafael Municipal Code aligning the City of San Rafael with statewide best practices, enhancing public transparency, reducing administrative inefficiencies, and providing a more convenient and reliable filing process for candidates and committees.
For a complete copy of the text of the Ordinance amending the Municipal Code, please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or (415) 485-3066. Copies of the Ordinance containing this Municipal Code amendment are also available for public review at the San Rafael City Clerk’s office, 1400 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Room 209, during regular business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
/s/______________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
San Rafael City Clerk
Dated: March 20, 2026