TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Laura B. Maguire, City Clerk
DATE:October 7, 2025
SUBJECT: Amendment to City Election Campaign Contribution Limit RECOMMENDATION:
1. Read ordinance in title only, waive further reading, and if no objection, introduce ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 13 of the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code as outlined in the ordinance.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time and costs to prepare this report and to update Thousand Oaks Municipal Code (TOMC) are included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The City adopted a local campaign finance reform ordinance in 1998. Pursuant to a City Council Top Priority goal for FY 2013-14, the ordinance underwent a comprehensive review and update in the fall of 2013 to align with State regulations and incorporate City Council-directed revisions. As part of that update, the base campaign limit was increased to $500 and a biennial adjustment in odd-numbered years was maintained. In addition, City Council directed that the $500 base limit be re-evaluated after five years.
In the fall of 2018, staff determined it was best to defer the five-year re-evaluation process due to the November 2018 election and other high-priority City matters.
On September 24, 2019, City Council completed the re-evaluation and voted to maintain the $500 base limit with biennial adjustments, setting the next review for 2023.
In March 2023, staff presented City Council with an update on campaign contribution regulations. City Council directed staff to increase the base
Amendment to City Election Campaign Contribution Limit
October 7, 2025
8 5
9 contribution limit to $750, continue biennial adjustments, and set the next re- evaluation of the base limit in five years. Subsequently, in December 2023, these changes, along with other provisions related to campaign committee closure requirements, were codified into the TOMC.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Staff recommends the March 2025 California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumer (CPI-U) increase be used for the 2026 election cycle.
Pursuant to TOMC §1-13.03(a)(3) (Attachment #1), City Council shall adjust the contribution limits established in March of every odd numbered year to reflect any increase or decrease in the CPI since the last such adjustment of the contribution limit. Such adjustments shall be rounded to the nearest ten and no/100ths ($10.00) dollar amount.
The calculator for the new limit is based on the following data for the CPI-U, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA:
March 2023 CPI-U
Index- Urban
Consumers
(a)
March 2025 CPI-U
Index- Urban
Consumers
(b)
CPI-U
Adjustment
Percentage
(b)-(a)/(a)=(c)
Proposed
Increase
(c)x($750)=(d)
Adjusted
Contribution
Amount
(d)+($750)
317.873 340.648 7.16% $53.74
(CPI-U Adjustment
Percentage X current
contribution amount)
$800
(Rounded to the nearest
$10 increment per TOMC)
Based on these changes to the Index, staff recommends adjusting the contribution limit from $750 to $800 (Attachment #2).
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Sandra M. Delgado, Deputy City Clerk
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – TOMC Contribution Limits and Disclosure Requirements Attachment #2 – Ordinance
CCD:630-10\sd\H:\COMMON\Elections\Local Camp Ord\2025\100725 Campaign Contribution Limit Update SR.docx