Chapter 2.54

ELECTRONIC FILING OF CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS AND STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST

• (a) Any elected officer, candidate, committee, or other person required to file statements, reports, or other documents as required by Chapter 4 of the Political Reform Act (California Government Code Section84100 et seq.) shall file such statements using the city clerk's online system according to procedures established by the city clerk. These procedures shall ensure that the online system complies with the requirements set forth in Section 84615 of the Government Code. From and after July 1, 2023, elected officers, candidates, and committees required to file statements must file such statements using the city clerk's online system, unless exempt from the requirement to file online pursuant to Government Code Section 84615 (a) because the officer, candidate, or committee receives less than $2,000.00 in contributions and makes less than $2,000.00 in expenditures in a calendar year.

• (b) The online filing system shall ensure the integrity of the data transmitted and shall include safeguards against efforts to tamper with, manipulate, alter, or subvert the data.

• (c) The online filing system shall only accept a filing in the standardized record format that is developed by the California Secretary of State pursuant to Section 84602(a)(2) of the California Government Code and that is compatible with the Secretary of State's system for receiving an online or electronic filing.

• (d) The online filing system shall include a procedure for filers to comply with the requirement that they sign statements and reports under penalty of perjury pursuant to Section 81004 of the Government Code.

• (Ord. O-2023-02, 6/20/2023)

• (a) During the period commencing with the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter and ending June 30, 2023, an elected officer, candidate, or committee may choose to utilize the electronic filing system by electronically filing a Statement that is required to be filed with the city clerk pursuant to Chapter 4 of the Political Reform Act. Once the elected officer, candidate, or committee has filed electronically, all subsequent Statements shall be filed electronically. From and after July 1, 2023, electronic filing is mandatory unless the officer, candidate, or committee is exempt as described in Government Code 84615.

• (b) Any elected officer, candidate, or committee who has electronically filed a statement using the city clerk's online system is not required to file a copy of that document in paper format with the city clerk.

• (c) The city clerk shall issue an electronic confirmation that notifies the filer that the statement was received, which notification shall include the date and the time that the statement was received and the method by which the filer may view and print the data received by the city clerk. The date of filing for a statement filed electronically shall be the day that it is received by the city clerk.

• (d) If the city clerk's system is not capable of accepting a statement due to technical difficulties, an elected officer, candidate, or committee shall file that statement in paper format with the city clerk.

• (e) The online filing system shall enable electronic filers to complete and submit filings free of charge.

• (Ord. O-2023-02, 6/20/2023)

• (a) The city clerk's system shall make all the data filed available on the city's webpage in an easily understood format that provides the greatest public access. The data shall be made available free of charge and as soon as possible after receipt. Data made available on the city's webpage shall not contain the street name and building number, phone number, and signature block of the persons or entity representatives listed on the electronically filed forms or any bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer. The city clerk's office shall make a complete, unredacted copy of the statement, including any street names, building numbers, phone numbers, signature block, and bank account numbers disclosed by the filer, available to any person upon request.

• (b) The city clerk's office shall maintain, for a period of at least ten (10) years commencing from the date filed, a secured, official version of each online or electronic statement which shall serve as the official version of that record for purpose of audits and any other legal purpose.

• (Ord. O-2023-02, 6/20/2023)

If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of the provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application; accordingly, the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.

(Ord. O-2023-02, 6/20/2023)