City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 25, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Section 11.04.050 Concerning Limitations on Campaign Contributions Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council introduce for first reading the Ordinance amending Section 11.04.050 concerning Limitations on Campaign Contributions.
Executive Summary
At the Council’s request, the City Attorney’s Office surveyed peer cities regarding the individual candidate contribution limit per election, and prepared an amended ordinance for the Council to consider raising the individual contribution limit.
Background
At its February 25, 2025, meeting, Council directed the City Attorney to return with recommendations and options to raise the individual contribution limit of varying amounts up to $1,500, with information including an environmental scan of peer cities regarding their contribution limits, and at least one option including automatic adjustments each election cycle, to be implemented at the beginning of odd numbered years following an election year, that reflect increase in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year (January – December) for the Los Angles-RiversideOrange County CPI-U as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics rounded to the nearest $10.00.
The Survey performed by the City Attorney determined that nearly all peer cities surveyed have higher individual contribution limits. In addition, many City Council races 2 of 4
are District races, meaning Councilmembers are campaigning to a smaller pool of voters than Councilmembers campaigning at-large. All cities, with the exception of those defaulting to state limits, adjust for CPI every two years. Santa Monica currently adjusts for CPI every five years.
Some cities choose not to adopt expenditure limits, in which case they default to the State limit of $5,900 per source.
Some cities establish a voluntary expenditure cap, and candidates accepting the cap are then entitled to a higher per-source contribution limit than those candidates who do not accept the cap. Those who accept the cap are also entitled to other benefits, such as having a statement published on the City’s website, having the cost of publication of their candidate statement in the voter guide waived or reduced, and being designated as a voluntary participant in the expenditure cap program.
City Population
Contribution
Limit per
source
(accept/reject
expenditure
cap)
Voluntary
Expenditure
Cap
Manner of Election
Santa Monica 93,080 $410 At-large
Redondo Beach 67,749 $1,200 District (5)
West Hollywood 34,349 $1,000 At-large
Culver City 39,401 $1,120 At-large
Newport Beach 85,998 $1,400 District (7)
Thousand Oaks 123,463 $1,400 District (7)
Glendale 203,054 $1,340 At-large
Carlsbad 113,495 $1,100 District (4)
Pomona 151,710 $2,750 District (6)
Santa Barbara 88,670 Accept: $5,900
Reject: $3,000 $50,000 District (6)
Santa Clara 128,058 Accept: $630
Reject: $310 $25,000 District (6)
Ventura 109,058 Accept: $400
Reject: $200 $50,000 District (7)
Beverly Hills 30,974 Accept: $500
Reject: $125 $100,000 At-large
Cities with no enacted limits (default to State limits):
Clovis 127,058 $5,900 At-large
Pasadena 133,560 $5,900 District (7)
Fullerton 142,280 $5,900 District (5)
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Huntington Beach 198,710 $5,900 At-large
*All cities who adjust for CPI every two years will increase this year.
Options
1. Raise the contribution limit amount to any amount selected by Council, adjusted for CPI every two years.
2. Eliminate the ordinance enacting local limits, and default to State limit of $5,900.
3. Institute a voluntary expenditure cap program, with contribution limits that vary based on whether a candidate voluntarily accepts the cap.
4. Do nothing and maintain $410 limit, adjusted every five years.
Draft ordinance
The Amended Ordinance has been prepared with a limit of $1,500 as a placeholder, and Council may insert the individual candidate contribution limit of Council’s choosing.
It has also been prepared so the amount will be adjusted for CPI per the Los AngelesRiverside-Orange County CPI-U every February (or as soon thereafter as practicable), and the City Clerk shall issue a public notice establishing the amounts as adjusted.
This is consistent with the Culver City model.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate fiscal impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action.
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Prepared By: Katie Doerr, Deputy City Attorney III
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. CC-Campaign Contributions-Ord