...Title
Campaign Finance Regulations. (Jimenez)
...Recommendations
1. Direct staff to research and return to Council with ordinances that strengthen our local campaign finance regulations. The following regulations should be explored:
a. Disclosure of top donors contributing to campaign committees making independent expenditures in municipal elections directly on all electioneering communications. Staff should specifically evaluate regulations from the following cities:
i. Mountain View (Muni Code Section 2.106);
ii. Cotati (Muni Code 1.09.090).
b. Enhanced enforcement of electioneering communication and other campaign regulations:
i. Require campaign committees making independent expenditures to file any mailing or distributed flyers (over 200) with the City Clerk, who will serve as a repository for literature without commentary;
ii. Create a central online location for campaign finance disclosure information.
(1) Require that this website be disclosed directly on all campaign electioneering communications, including mailers, television ads, and radio ads;
(2) Use the City & County of San Francisco Ethics Commission website as a model:
iii. Explore an enforcement model similar to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Enforcement Division “AdWATCH” - ttp://www.fppc.ca.gov/enforcement/adwatch.html
iv. Determine whether disclosure requirements can be imposed on “push polling,” which attempt to influence voters using manipulative or leading questions.
v. Evaluate any modifications to the San José Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices necessary to implement all of the regulations above and improve the ability of the Board to ensure compliance with local campaign regulations.
2. Organize a City Council Study Session in spring 2021 and invite campaign finance legal experts to explore innovative approaches to limiting corruption, or the appearance of corruption, of corporate and special inter...
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