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City Council Meeting 7-24-01
Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2016
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA ADDING SECTION 11.04.165 TO THE SANTA
MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDA PETITIONS AND RECALLS
AND DECLARING THE PRESENCE OF AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, government should serve all people equally, without regard to their
wealth; and
WHEREAS, soaring campaign costs increase the power and influence of wealthy
contributors, giving them undue influence over the political process and the government
and undermining public confidence in government; and
WHEREAS, the full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions ameliorates
these problems by giving voters information they need to vote wisely and by averting
corruption; and
WHEREAS, the disclosure requirements set forth in California's Political Reform Act
protect voters' ability to make informed choices and safeguard against corruption and
undue influence; and
WHEREAS, although generally salutary, the state's disclosure requirements do not
adequately address the voters' needs for information involving local ballot measures
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because, when the circulation period is brief, disclosure may not occur until after circulation
has concluded; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 81009.5 recognizes that cities have the
authority to adopt additional filing requirements applicable to committees supporting or
opposing the qualification of, or passage of, local ballot measures; and
WHEREAS, Santa Monica wishes to exercise this authority to ensure that its voters
may make informed decisions on ballot measures and in order to protect the electoral
process against corruption and undue influence,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.04.165 is hereby added to the Santa Monica Municipal
Code to read as follows:
Section 11.04.165. Disclosure Requirements During Signature
Gathering Periods for Initiatives, Referenda and Recalls in the City of
Santa Monica.
(a) In order to ensure that any person interested in the finances of any
committee that is raising or spending funds to support or oppose an initiative,
recall or referendum, such committees shall file their financial disclosure
documents on dates that are within the time period in which signatures are
gathered.
(b) For initiatives and recalls, campaign disclosure statements shall
be filed on the 15th day of the signature gathering period covering days 1-10,
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