HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 675 Establishing Campaign Contribution Limits - signedORDINANCE NO. 675
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA
ADDING CHAPTER 2.50 TO THE MORRO BAY MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
T H E C I T Y C O U N C I L
City of Morro Bay, California
WHEREAS, the California’s Political Reform Act (the “ACT”) requires disclosure of
campaign contributions and expenditures in connection with state and local elections and
authorizes local agencies to enact campaign regulations that do not prevent compliance with the
Act itself; and
WHEREAS, effective January 1, 2021, Assembly Bill No. 571 (“AB 571) imposed a default
campaign contribution limit upon cities and counties; and
WHEREAS, the current State default contribution limit for the City’s election in 2026 would
be $5,900 per donor, which is significantly in excess of the size of most contributions that have
traditionally been made in City campaigns; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and declares it is in the public’s and City’s
interest to limit the amount of contributions per donor that may be made to candidates and
committees controlled by candidates for City elective offices and that a lower, reasonable
contribution limit of $500 per donor will still be adequate for candidates to raise sufficient funds to
get their message out to the electorate; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 85702.5 permits cities to act, either by
ordinance or resolution, to establish their own campaign contribution limits that differ from those
described in Government Code Sections 85301 and 83124; and
WHEREAS, in adopting this Ordinance, it is the City Council’s intent to ensure a fair
election process by setting local campaign contribution limits; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites relating to the adoption of this ordinance have occurred.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY
CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are hereby
adopted as findings in support of this Ordinance as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such a decision shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council declares that
it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase
thereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or
phrases, be declared invalid.
SECTION 3. Potential Conflicts. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with
those sections amended or added herein are hereby expressly superseded by this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall not become effective and in full force
and effect until 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day after its final passage.
SECTION 5. Addition of Campaign Contribution Limits. A new Morro Bay Municipal
Code Chapter 2.50, “Campaign Contribution Limits,” is hereby added to the Morro Bay Municipal
Code to read as follows:
2.50.010 – Purpose and Intent
A. It is the purpose and intent of this chapter:
1. To promote integrity, honesty, fairness, and transparency in municipal election
campaigns
2. To prevent corruption, or the appearance of corruption, which results from the real
or imagined influence of large contributions on the conduct or actions of candidates
elected to office.
3. To place realistic and enforceable limits on the amounts persons may contribute in
municipal election campaigns.
4. To provide full and fair enforcement of all provisions of this chapter.
B. By enacting this chapter, the city council does not intend to deprive or restrict any citizen
of the exercise of rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution and the California
Constitution.
C. The city council takes specific notice of the findings and declarations made in the Political
Reform Act and finds and declares them applicable to Morro Bay and a basis for enacting
this chapter.
D. It is the intent of this chapter to impose limits on the amount of money that may be
contributed to a candidate or controlled committee to achieve the purposes specified in
this section. This chapter is not intended, and shall not be construed, to establish any
reporting, filing, or procedural requirement in addition to, or different from, the Political
Reform Act or the regulations adopted by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
2.50.020 – Definitions
The terms used in this chapter shall have the same definitions as specified in the Political Reform
Act and FPPC regulations. In those cases where definitions in the Political Reform Act or FPPC
regulations contain a specific reference to any state election, candidate, or electoral criteria, the
definition shall be modified to reflect the municipal equivalent, or, in the absence of a municipal
equivalent, to delete the specific reference.
2.50.030 – Limits on Campaign Contributions to Candidates
A. Acceptance or Solicitation by Candidates or Controlled Committees. No candidate or
controlled committee shall solicit or accept any contribution from any person which would
cause the total amount contributed by such person, with respect to any single election, to
the candidate or any controlled committee connected with that candidate, to exceed the
sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
B. Not Applicable to Personal Funds or Loans. The limits imposed by this section shall not
apply to the contribution of a candidate’s personal funds or loans made from a candidate
to their own controlled committee made in accordance with state law.
C. Return of Excessive Contributions. Contributions which either in the aggregate or on their
face exceed the contribution limit under this section shall be deemed not to have been
accepted if returned within 14 days of receipt so long as the candidate or controlled
committee did not make use of the contribution prior to returning it.
D. Penalties and Enforcement.
1. Violations of this chapter may be punishable as infractions or misdemeanors
pursuant to Chapter 1.16 of the Morro Bay Municipal Code.
2. Violations of this chapter may be punishable through administrative fines imposed
by the city clerk as the designated enforcement officer in accordance with Chapter
1.03 of the Morro Bay Municipal Code.
3. In addition to other remedies provided by this chapter or by other law, any violation
of this chapter may be remedied by a civil action brought by the city attorney,
including but not limited to administrative or judicial proceedings, civil or criminal
code enforcement proceedings, and suits for injunctive relief
4. The remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and in addition to any other
remedies available at law or in equity.
SECTION 6. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify as to the passage and adoption of
this ordinance, and the City Clerk shall cause the same to be posted and codified in the manner
required by law.
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of Morro Bay, held on the 13th day
of January 2026 by motion of Councilmember Eckles and seconded by Councilmember Luffee.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on the 27th day of January 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: Wixom, Eckles, Edwards, Landrum, Luffee
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
____________________________
CARLA WIXOM, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
DANA SWANSON, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
BRIAN J. STACK, City Attorney
Brian Stack (Jan 29, 2026 08:59:58 PST)
Brian Stack
Carla Wixom (Jan 29, 2026 10:02:44 PST)
Carla Wixom
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO )
CITY OF MORRO BAY )
I, Dana Swanson, CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, HEREBY CERTIFY
the foregoing Ordinance Number 675 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City Council of
the City Morro Bay at a regular meeting of said Council on the 27th of January 2026 and that it
was so adopted on by the following vote:
AYES: Wixom, Eckles, Edwards, Landrum, Luffee
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of Morro Bay, California, this ______ day of _______________, 2026.
DANA SWANSON, City Clerk
29 January
Ordinance No. 675 Establishing Campaign
Contribution Limits
Final Audit Report 2026-01-29
Created:2026-01-29
By:Heather Goodwin (hgoodwin@morrobayca.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAW9whLrmBRaxUny9640PLipX4RRfmctvw
"Ordinance No. 675 Establishing Campaign Contribution Limits"
History
Document created by Heather Goodwin (hgoodwin@morrobayca.gov)
2026-01-29 - 1:44:47 AM GMT
Document emailed to Brian Stack (bstack@morrobayca.gov) for signature
2026-01-29 - 1:46:01 AM GMT
Email viewed by Brian Stack (bstack@morrobayca.gov)
2026-01-29 - 4:59:49 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Brian Stack (bstack@morrobayca.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-01-29 - 4:59:58 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Document emailed to cwixom@morrobayca.gov for signature
2026-01-29 - 5:00:00 PM GMT
Email viewed by cwixom@morrobayca.gov
2026-01-29 - 6:02:14 PM GMT
Signer cwixom@morrobayca.gov entered name at signing as Carla Wixom
2026-01-29 - 6:02:42 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Carla Wixom (cwixom@morrobayca.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-01-29 - 6:02:44 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Document emailed to Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov) for signature
2026-01-29 - 6:02:45 PM GMT
Email viewed by Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov)
2026-01-29 - 7:26:55 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-01-29 - 7:27:15 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2026-01-29 - 7:27:15 PM GMT