REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Campaign Ethics Subcommittee (Information Only)
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2006 the City Council created a Campaign Ethics Public Education Outreach Program and appointed a Subcommittee to work with City staff to develop a campaign ethics brochure for general distribution to the public. The Council also approved funding for the printing and distribution of the brochure. In 2007 the Council approved an ethics brochure ("Campaign Ethics Guide") and subsequently distributed it to the public prior to that year's November election.
Most recently, in 2013, the Council limited the responsibility of the subcommittee to potentially running a "Last Word" event to address any negative campaign issues. The task of updating the Campaign Ethics Guide (Guide) was left to staff since most revisions were limited to changing dates and updating the percentage of voters with vote-by-mail status.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.0 Long-term Advocacy Positions - Planning and Management A(2): In cooperation with County Registrar of Voters, support practices which would increase voter turnout in local elections (e.g., mail ballots, more information to voters for judicial elections).
DISCUSSION
City staff has reviewed past practice and is preparing for the 2016 election cycle. This report presents the plan staff will pursue unless Council desires to place this matter on a future agenda and provide other direction and/or resources, if applicable.
For each election cycle since 2007, the City Council has updated the Campaign Ethics Guide and explored the possibility of hosting a candidate forum, including an option for a Last Word event to discuss any negative campaign issues; all of this has been completed based on the recommendations of an appointed Campaign Ethics Subcommittee. In 2011 the Council took action to consider the appointment of an Ethics Subcommittee prior to September of every election year. The early presentation timeline o...
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