City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 2 January 13, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 4.8
DATE: January 13, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Union City Amending Chapter 2.05 (Campaign Reporting Requirements) of the Union City Municipal Code to Align the Electronic Filing Exemption Threshold with State Law
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On December 9, 2025, the City Council waived full reading and introduced by title only an ordinance amending Chapter 2.05 of the Union City Municipal Code to align the City’s electronic campaign filing exemption threshold with Government Code § 84615. The proposed ordinance lowers the exemption threshold from $2,000 to $1,000 in contributions and expenditures per calendar year, consistent with state law. Staff recommends that the City Council waive further reading and adopt the proposed ordinance.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item advances Goal B: Governance and Organizational Effectiveness by ensuring consistency between local ordinances and state law, strengthening regulatory compliance, and promoting clear and predictable campaign reporting requirements for candidates, committees, and the public.
BACKGROUND
In April 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 921-24, which updated Chapter
2.05 of the Union City Municipal Code to require mandatory electronic filing of campaign disclosure statements with the City Clerk. The ordinance included an exemption for filers who receive less than $2,000 in contributions and make less than $2,000 in expenditures in a calendar year.
Subsequent review by staff identified that Government Code § 84615 establishes a lower exemption threshold of $1,000 in contributions and expenditures for jurisdictions that mandate electronic filing. To address this inconsistency, the City’s Legislation and Policy Committee reviewed the matter on November 17, 2025, and recommended that the City Council amend the Municipal Code to align with state law.
Agenda Item No. 4.8
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 2 January 13, 2026
On December 9, 2025, the City Council introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 2.05.
The ordinance is now before the City Council for adoption.
DISCUSSION
The ordinance amends Section 2.05.050(A) of the Union City Municipal Code to revise the electronic filing exemption threshold from $2,000 to $1,000 in contributions and expenditures per calendar year, consistent with Government Code § 84615. No other provisions of Chapter 2.05 are proposed for amendment.
Adopting this ordinance ensures compliance with state law, eliminates ambiguity for campaign filers, and maintains uniform reporting standards. The City’s electronic filing system (NetFile) already complies with the technical and accessibility requirements of the Political Reform Act, and no operational changes are required to implement the amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION
Waive further reading and adopt an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Union City amending Chapter 2.05 (Campaign Reporting Requirements) of the Union City Municipal Code to align the electronic filing exemption threshold with state law.
Prepared by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Submitted by: Thai Nam Pham, City Clerk
Attachments
1. Proposed Ordinance