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Home My WebLink About2020-06-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - CONSIDERATION OF AN ORD REGARDING ELECTRONIC CAMPA (2)8 Agenda Item:7 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: DATE: June 23, 2020 CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING SUBJECT: ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN FILING DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services PRESENTER: Mary Cusick RECOMMENDED ACTION AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, CONCERNING ELECTRONIC FILING OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS BACKGROUND The California Political Reform Act requires candidates for local offices to file campaign disclosure forms with the local filing officer (City Clerk). Government Code Section 84615 allows local agencies to require all such filings to be made electronically. In order to implement this, the local agency must provide an online system that complies with standards adopted by the California Secretary of State and adopt an ordinance authorizing the system. The proposed ordinance contains the findings required by Government Code Section 84615 to allow implementation of the electronic filing requirement, specifically finding that the system will ensure the integrity of the data and includes safeguards against efforts to tamper with, manipulate, alter, or subvert the data; only accept a filing in the standardized record format developed by the Secretary of State and compatible with the Secretary of State's system for receiving an online or electronic filing; and not unduly burden those filing required forms. At this time, according to the Secretary of State website, more than 150 local government agencies and 30 counties throughout California have an online filing system and a public website for viewing reports. Currently, campaign forms filed locally with the City Clerk are filed in both hard copy and electronic format, requiring the maintenance and tracking of both electronic and paper files. filing web-based system software (CampaignDocs) for optional electronic filing of candidate and Page 1 Qbdlfu!Qh/!51 8 committee campaign forms. The CampaignDocs system has been certified by the Secretary of State and meets the requirements set by Government Code Section 84615. Although state law authorized the City to mandate electronic filing, it is recognized that such a mandate could have a direct effect on those committees or individuals who do not have computer access or familiarity with computer programs. To ensure the same opportunity to comply with the Political Reform Act is afforded to all committees without unduly burdening any one committee, it is recommended to approve an Opt-In/Out program. For reporting continuity and accurate accounting of contributions and expenditures, once a committee chooses to file a report statements electronically using CampaignDocs. On the other hand, any committee who wishes to continue to paper-- statements with the City Clerk. Should a committee choose to only paper-file, the City Clerk will - CampaignDocs is free to users and operates securely and effectively without unduly burdening filers, while providing immediate online access to redacted statements. Filers are able to input campaign finance information periodically, or all at once, with the system retaining and aggregating data specific to a campaign, to be used and carried over from one reporting period to treasurer for added security. Once the form is submitted, only then are the transactions made public. Accessibility to online statements can significantly reduce staff time spent on administration of campaign filings and demonstrate the greatest level of transparency by making reports immediately available to the public via the Cit participation for active committees, as well as the yet to be determined number of candidates and committees that may be participating in the upcoming 2020 general municipal election. benchmark cities, including Pasadena, Lancaster, and most recently Oxnard, have all passed similar ordinances regarding electronic filing of campaign disclosure forms. ALTERNATIVE ACTION 1. Do not adopt ordinance. 2. Amend the ordinance as directed. FISCAL IMPACT No Fiscal Impact. ATTACHMENTS Ordinance - Electronic Campaign Statements Page 2 Qbdlfu!Qh/!52 8/b ORDINANCE NO. 20-___ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, CONCERNING ELECTRONIC FILING OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 84615 provides that the legislative body of a local government agency may adopt an ordinance that requires 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, except those whose contributions and expenditures each total less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) in a calendar year, to file such statements, reports, or other documents online or electronically with the local filing officer (City Clerk); and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has been using Granicus (formerly SouthTech Systems, Inc.) CampaignDocs electronic filing web-based system software for campaign reporting and compliance since June 2017; and WHEREAS, Granicus CampaignDocs electronic filing web-based system software contains multiple safeguards to protect the integrity and security of the data, and will operate securely and effectively and will not unduly burden filers; and WHEREAS, Granicus CampaignDocs electronic filing web-based system software has been certified by the Secretary of State and meets the requirements set by Government Code Section 84615; and WHEREAS, the City Clerk and Granicus will operate the CampaignDocs electronic filing web-based system software in compliance with the requirements of California Government Code Section 84615 and any other applicable laws. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California, does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1. Section 7.02.040 Campaign Disclosure of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: Registration. Whenever any elected officer, candidate, or committee is required to file a campaign statement under the Political Reform Act or the Regulations with the City Clerk, the elected officer, candidate, or committee shall file the statement in an electronic format prescribed by the City Clerk. 1. Any statement, report, or other document filed electronically or online pursuant to this section will be accepted as an original statement and need not be filed in Buubdinfou;!Psejobodf!.!Fmfduspojd!Dbnqbjho!Tubufnfout!!)Fmfduspojd!Gjmjoh!pg!Dbnqbjho!Ejtdmptvsf!Tubufnfout* paper format. Page 1 of 3 Qbdlfu!Qh/!53 8/b 2. To ensure reporting continuity, once a statement, report, form, or other document is filed electronically on behalf of any elected officer, candidate, or committee, all future statements, reports, forms, and other documents filed on behalf of that officer, candidate or committee must be filed electronically. 3. An elected officer, candidate, committee or other person may choose not to use the electronic filing system by filing all original statements, reports, forms, or other documents in paper format with the City Clerk. 4. The date of filing for a statement, report, or other document that is filed online or electronically shall be the day that it is received by the City Clerk, and the electronic system will provide confirmation with a timestamp ensuring that the statement, report, or other document was received. 5. If access to online filings has not been prescribed in a timely manner, the elected city officer, candidate, or committee may file an original statement by paper, at the discretion of the City Clerk. 6. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to persons or combinations of persons who qualify as a committee under Section 82013 of the Political Reform Act. 7. The City Clerk is authorized to establish such administrative policies and procedures as deemed necessary to implement these requirements. SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its passage and adoption. SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required by law. th PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 14 day of July 2020. ______________________________ MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK Buubdinfou;!Psejobodf!.!Fmfduspojd!Dbnqbjho!Tubufnfout!!)Fmfduspojd!Gjmjoh!pg!Dbnqbjho!Ejtdmptvsf!Tubufnfout* ________________________ DATE Page 2 of 3 Qbdlfu!Qh/!54 8/b STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance 20- was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a rd regular meeting of the City Council on the 23 day of June 2020. That thereafter, said ordinance th was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 14 day of July 2020, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 20- and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806). ______________________________ CITY CLERK Buubdinfou;!Psejobodf!.!Fmfduspojd!Dbnqbjho!Tubufnfout!!)Fmfduspojd!Gjmjoh!pg!Dbnqbjho!Ejtdmptvsf!Tubufnfout* Page 3 of 3 Qbdlfu!Qh/!55