CC Minutes - 02/13/02 Work Session

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campaigns for public hearing an possible action on February 25, 2002. The ordinance shall include: 1. Total voluntary contribution limit amounts for councilor and mayoral candidates for both the primary and general elections. 2. A limit on total contributions per single contributor. 3. Outline of a mechanism for candidates to file a pledge of intent to abide by the voluntary limits with the City. 4. Benefits for candidates who file such a pledge. 5. At a minimum, the City shall prominently publicize in the print media and on the City's website a list of candidates noting who had and had not filed the pledge. 6. A voluntary time limit on contributions so that the deadline coincides with the second supplemental filing. 7. Campaign contributions made by the candidate to his/her own campaign should abide by the same limits as any other contribution. In response to a question from Mr. Rayor regarding why there should be an ordinance, City Manager Johnson said if benefits were to be provided for those who signed the voluntary pledge, then staff preferred that an ordinance be drafted. In response to a comment from Ms. Bettman regarding her second and third suggestions being able to be handled administratively, City Manager Johnson said they could be handled administratively at the specific direction of the council. Ms. Bettman noted that language on City ballot measures was left out of the motion but was not sure how such language could be integrated into the motion. She requested ideas regarding how that could be done. Ms. Bettman said she would support the motion. She noted the public support for campaign finance reform and added the voluntary ordinance had worked in other communities. In response to a question from Ms. Nathanson regarding how voluntary time limits might be a legal risk to the City, Mr. Klein said as long as the limits were voluntary there was not a large legal risk to the City. Ms. Bettman offered her third suggestion, a provision in the resolution/ordinance that requires the City to print a minimum of two public service announcements reporting the cumulative contributions and expenditures in local papers, two days prior to the election, as a friendly amendment to the motion. It was accepted by Mr. Kelly as a friendly amendment. In response to a question from Ms. Bettman regarding her second suggestion, a reduction in the amounts qualifying for the supplemental filing, making them more consistent with a local campaign rather than a statewide campaign, Mr. Klein said he believed the City could enact its own reporting requirements. He noted that there were some staff in the State Elections Division that believed that the City did not have that authority and added that the State Attorney General's Office had agreed that there was no express preemption but had not researched whether there was an implied preemption. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 13, 2002 Page 8 Work Session